Brookhaven suspends Google Fiber work after gas major accident

After a Google Fiber crew crashed into a gas line near Montgomery Elementary School on Ashford Dunwoody Road on Friday, Dec. 13, Brookhaven has ordered a citywide stop work order.

The incident is the latest in a series of problems caused by the installation of underground cables in Brookhaven, affecting more than 10,000 residential properties. Google Fiber is about 30% of the installation complete.

This year, nearly 100 residents have filed complaints about Google Fiber on the city’s online service request system, Brookhaven Connect. Residents say the utility giant destroyed sidewalks, burst water pipes, destroyed landscaping and more.

Suspending work will allow officials to evaluate means and methods of ensuring public safety and ensuring unnecessary impacts to residents are avoided, the city said.

“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 is troubling that Brookhaven needs to advocate for all stakeholders to work together,” said City Council Member Madeleine Simmons.

City Council member Jennifer Owens said there is only so much action a municipality like Brookhaven can take against utilities.

“When it comes to public safety, we have to take a stand. “Google Fiber still has a lot of work to do in Brookhaven and we need to pause and improve security before moving forward,” Owens said.

The health and safety of residents is the top priority, especially when dealing with young children, said City Council member Michael Diaz.