Brookhaven is halting work on Google Fiber after a strike on the gas main near the school

BROOKHAVEN, Ga – The city of Brookhaven issued a citywide stop-work order for Google Fiber following a gas main strike near an elementary school on Ashford Dunwoody Road. The incident occurred on Friday, December 13, during the installation of Google Fiber infrastructure.

City officials cited safety concerns as the reason for pausing work to evaluate procedures and ensure the safety of residents.

“The health and safety of our residents is our top priority, especially when dealing with young children,” said District 1 Councilman Michael Diaz. “As a civil engineer, I look forward to learning how Google Fiber addresses our citywide concerns want.”

District 2 Councilwoman Jennifer Owens emphasized the city’s limited authority over utilities but defended the decision. “We fully understand that a local community like Brookhaven can only take so much action against utilities, but with public safety in mind, we must take a stand. “Google Fiber still has a lot of work to do in Brookhaven and we need to pause and increase security before we move forward,” Owens said.

Mayor Pro Tempore John Funny emphasized the importance of responsibility during construction. “Our priority is to ensure that all work within the City’s rights of way adheres to the highest standards of safety, quality and restoration. “We are committed to holding Google Fiber accountable for minimizing disruptions, promptly repairing any damage, and maintaining clear communication with residents and businesses throughout the construction process,” Funny said.

District 3 Councilwoman Madeleine Simmons added that coordination between utilities needs to be improved. “Utilities the scale of Google Fiber, Atlanta Gas and DeKalb Watershed Management have tremendous human and financial resources to ensure the delivery of these important services to residents. “It’s troubling that it’s Brookhaven that has to work to get everyone involved to work together,” Simmons said.

City officials did not provide a timetable for lifting the work stoppage, but stressed the need for increased safety measures before construction resumes.

Google Fiber has not yet publicly responded to the stop-work order.