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Castle Pines delays decision on microtrenching for fiber, will revisit in one year
Summary
After a public-works briefing on microtrenching, council members expressed concerns about pavement integrity, yard vaults and multiple vendor cuts and voiced no opposition to staff’s recommendation to monitor other jurisdictions and revisit the policy in 12 months.
City councilors on June 10 heard a detailed briefing from public-works staff on "microtrenching," a method that uses narrow saw cuts in pavement to lay fiber optic cable. Jay Rowe, a public-works presenter, explained the typical sequence — a narrow trench cut between asphalt and curb, conduit or cable placement, and grout backfill — and showed photos of installations in other Colorado communities.
Staff highlighted the advantage of speed and lower neighborhood disruption for microtrenching and said the technique can produce gigabit-capable connections for homes. But presenters also flagged potential long-term risks: water intrusion at the new pavement joint, erosion concerns in non-curbed rural streets, and aesthetic impacts from handholes or vaults placed between properties. Staff cited regional experience, noting "about 189+ miles" and "about over 1,000,000 feet" of microtrenching in Colorado as context for their review.
Council members pressed staff on repair responsibilities, whether fiber is owned by providers or the city, and whether previously installed city conduit could serve as an alternative. Staff said utility companies typically own fiber and would be responsible for repairs, and that contractors generally use grout or polymer to finish trenches so surfaces are traversable.
Given remaining uncertainties — including open permit issues in peer cities such as Lakewood — staff recommended the city continue to monitor regional deployments and return to the council in one year. Council members raised concerns about bicycle and pedestrian safety on curvy streets, the visual impact of in-yard handholes, and the prospect of multiple providers making successive cuts. The mayor asked whether anyone opposed waiting a year; council members said no.
The council did not adopt an ordinance or formal policy change at the meeting. Instead, staff will track outcomes and operational experience in other municipalities and bring a refined recommendation back to the council after the monitoring period.
