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Verizon asks Cranston committee to allow underground fiber conduit on Camden Lane and Kendall Court
Summary
A Verizon New England representative requested permission to install a 2-inch, ~4,035-foot underground conduit and 19 handholes along Camden Lane and Kendall Court to bring fiber to an underserved development; the petition goes to full council May 18 and returns to committee June 3 after DPW review.
Ross Biladoo, representing Verizon New England, told the Public Works Committee on May 6 that Verizon is seeking municipal permission to install one new 2-inch underground conduit (approximately 4,035 feet) and 19 handholes starting at pole 16 (Hope Road/Camden Lane) and continuing along Camden Lane and Kendall Court to bring fiber service into a development that currently lacks high-speed internet. He said funding for the work is coming from the Rhode Island Pandemic Recovery Office as part of a statewide broadband buildout initiative.
Biladoo said Verizon has the petition ready and that it will be submitted to full City Council on May 18; if approved there the item will return to the Public Works Committee on June 3 for consideration of trenching, pavement restoration and DPW recommendations. Director Caro will review the petition in the interim and staff said they would contact Verizon if any issues arise before the committee meeting.
Committee members asked technical and neighborhood-notification questions. Biladoo and staff said abutters had been notified in advance, that the work will be in the right-of-way and mostly in grass (there is no sidewalk on portions of the route), and that any excavation that must go under pavement or driveways would be done by directional boring to avoid repaving. Councilors asked about pavement disruption on recently paved streets; Verizon representatives said the conduit alignment hugs the edge of pavement and would generally not disturb newly paved surfaces. Restoration practices include grass-seeding and curb-to-curb paving where required by municipal restoration rules.
Verizon was advised to appear (in person or on Zoom) at the May 18 council meeting; the committee and Verizon agreed it will not need to attend the council meeting if the petition is routed directly to committee and the DPW director’s review is complete. Verizon will return to the committee on June 3 for the initial docket review.
No vote was taken by the committee on May 6; staff will circulate the DPW review and coordinate outreach with Verizon as the petition moves through council procedures.
