New Brighton warns fiber work is underway citywide, with more possible this summer
New Brighton says private fiber crews are working in rights-of-way now, and more underground boring may begin in neighborhoods this summer.
New Brighton residents may see more cones, bored trenches, utility flags, and short-term access issues around the city after officials posted a May 22 alert saying fiber-optic work is already underway.
The city says Forged Fiber-AT&T, formerly Lumen, is installing fiber infrastructure throughout New Brighton under permit in the public right-of-way. City officials also stressed that the work is not a city street reconstruction project, a distinction that matters for residents trying to figure out who is responsible for the disruption.
In practical terms, that means the activity you see in a neighborhood is utility-style construction rather than roadwork run by the city. Depending on where crews are working, residents may notice temporary lane impacts, parking limits, yard access issues, or equipment in the right-of-way near their homes or businesses.
The city also warned that New Brighton could see more of this type of work soon. According to the notice, additional fiber providers may begin similar underground boring as early as this summer. The city did not say all neighborhoods will be affected equally, so the best way to judge local impact is to watch for route-specific notices and project markings.
Why the city is drawing a line between fiber work and roadwork
For residents, the difference is more than wording. If a road is being rebuilt or resurfaced by the city, that project usually comes with a public works schedule, city contact points, and a broader set of street impacts. The fiber work described by New Brighton is different: it is being done by a private utility provider, under permit, in the public right-of-way.
That means the city is not presenting this as a municipal street reconstruction effort, even though the construction may still affect the same sidewalks, curb areas, and nearby traffic patterns that residents use every day. Homeowners, renters, commuters, and local businesses can all feel the effects when crews are boring or trenching near driveways, access points, or parking spaces.
Who is involved
The city’s alert names Forged Fiber-AT&T as the installer on the project and notes that the company was formerly Lumen. AT&T has separately said it closed its acquisition of Lumen’s fiber business, which helps explain why the city notice uses both names.
For residents, the important point is not corporate branding but responsibility. If a question comes up about the fiber work, the city is signaling that this is not a city-run project and that the provider is the party tied to the permit and the installation.
What residents should watch for next
The most immediate takeaway is simple: expect more construction activity in some parts of New Brighton while fiber installation continues. That may not mean major citywide disruption, but it does suggest more neighborhood-level inconvenience is possible as crews move through the public right-of-way.
Officials have also indicated that other fiber companies may begin similar underground work later this summer. If that happens, residents could see multiple utility-style projects over time rather than a single short burst of activity.
For now, the city’s update is mainly a heads-up. It tells residents that the work is real, that it is private utility construction rather than a city road project, and that more of the same may be coming soon.
