Burlington Ward 6 Rural Broadband Internet Project Update: April 14, 2022

Rural Burlington
Written By

Please see below this week’s project update from Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Councillor Angelo Bentivegna for the Rural Ward 6 Internet Broadband project, as we continue working with stakeholders and residents to provide information about the completion of this essential rural broadband project.

Mayor Meed Ward and Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna invites all interested residents to join the live update meetings to provide further details and answer any questions arising throughout the project. Meetings will be held virtually on the following dates from 5:30-6:30 p.m.:

  • Wednesday, April 20;
  • Wednesday, May 18;
  • Wednesday, June 15; and
  • Wednesday, July 13.

Please use the below details to join:

Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83712243708?pwd=OXV0N3ZmRS83UExqKzZ5KzYxa3BKdz09

Meeting ID: 837 1224 3708

Passcode: sn9880

Or Dial in: 647 558 0588

Meeting ID: 837 1224 3708

Passcode: 610963

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keidZKJrXw

Update as of April 14, 2022:ApprovalsNiagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) Development Permit:The updated Best Management Practices (BMP) report and finalized site plan drawings were received by NEC staff earlier this week and these are currently under review. A comment from NEC on the previous BMP was addressed and NEC staff are confident that their end of the process could be resolved in the coming days or as soon as signoff is received from Halton Region and Conservation Halton. Conservation Halton will be providing their comments to the NEC and Halton Region this week.Once the NEC permit is issued, IASL/ Standard Broadband will be able to attach the NEC permit to their Conservation Halton permit application. Since Conservation Halton has been working in tandem with the NEC and based on the current review, the Conservation Halton permit application is expected to be turned around quickly.Halton Region and Conservation Halton are collaborating on their response to the NEC in the review process, and the Region’s final response is expected in the coming days.The Conservation Halton and NEC permits will then be submitted to the Region. This is needed in order to provide Public Works staff with clearance to provide the Municipal Consent permit needed for the project to go ahead.Once all of the above is completed, the City of Burlington will be able to accept a permit application. Since city staff have been kept informed regarding reports submitted to other agencies, it would put them in a position to turn the permit application around in a timely manner.The NEC will follow the construction process as it unfolds to ensure that the guidelines of the permit are adhered to.ArboristThe City has provided a list of arborists to IASL/Standard Broadband.Construction process No changes are expected in the construction timeline and IASL/Standard Broadband continues to be confident that construction can begin in May and will be completed on time.Construction will begin in the Derry Rd area and progress towards the south.Pipelines, Hydro, Creeks and Regional Roads:Creek crossings:For the pole line designs IASL/ Standard Broadband will use an inhouse company, Roehampton Cable Ltd., who has extensive experience in utility pole line designs.  Roehampton Cable staff are currently working on the permits and crossing drawings needed for the Joint Use (JU) Agreement. Once the JU Agreement has been executed, JU permit applications will be submitted for review to Burlington Hydro with associated structural pole analysis reports sealed by a Professional Engineer.  Four of the five crossings have been designed to date. The Engineering review will determine if make ready work (new poles) are required. Thus far according to IASL, no pole replacements are expected.Pipeline Crossings:Approval has been received to proceed with the three high pressure Enbridge Gas Line (formerly Union Gas) right-of-way crossings on Walkers Line, Appleby Line and Bell School Line South of Derry Road.Walkers Line, Appleby Line and Bell School Line are also crossed by Sun-Canadian high-pressure oil pipelines South of Britannia Rd. IASL is currently expecting a Pipeline Crossing Agreement from Sun-Canadian in order to proceed with pipeline permit applications.Proposed IASL fiber cable will also cross Enbridge and Imperial Oil high pressure pipelines on Walkers Line North of 1 Side Road and on Appleby Line between the two Side Road 2 intersections. At these locations the Enbridge and Imperial Oil Pipelines are beside one another. IASL is currently working with these companies to obtain Pipeline Crossing Agreements and permits.Pipeline Crossings should not influence the construction timeline. Construction work will proceed on both sides of the crossings if necessary until the crossing permits are approved. IASL/ Standard Broadband will install an additional 50mm HDPE conduit in these crossings to facilitate future maintenance or expansion.Regional Road Crossings:As mentioned above in the NEC permit application section, the Region would be able to issue a permit once the NEC and Conservation Halton permits are issued.There are no outstanding items related to the road occupancy permit.Next StepsThe group will meet again next week and continue to collaborate to ensure the project stays on track.Timeline:Below is information that has been shared with the community in previous updates, but is restated here for convenience.April 2022Per the applicant’s webpage, once permits are issued IASL/Standard Broadband will:

  • finalize and post their construction schedule on their webpage
  • order locates for underground utilities

May-June-July 2022Per the applicant’s webpage, once locates are issued, IASL/Standard Broadband will:

  • bring in equipment
  • begin construction, which is expected to take three months

Webpage:The city has set up a dedicated Rural Internet Installation webpage for the two rural broadband projects currently underway here: https://www.burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/rural-internet-installation.aspPlease check back regularly for updates. If you have subscribed to the page, you’ll receive an alert each time new information is posted.Comments/Questions:Please feel free to share this correspondence with other rural residents who may be interested.If you have any additional questions, please let us know and we will endeavour to get answers and include them in a future update.Please be assured that we are all working toward the same shared goal of securing rural broadband for our residents as soon as possible.Sincerely,Marianne & AngeloMayor Marianne Meed Ward & Ward 6 Councillor Angelo BentivegnaRELATED LINKS:

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