Another fiber company told to stop working in the Midlands after causing gas leak
Stop working.
That’s what the Town of Lexington told Ripple Fiber employees following recent incidents where the company hit and damaged multiple Dominion Energy gas lines, officials said Saturday in a news release.
The Town of Lexington has issued a stop work order to Ripple Fiber, according to the release. The order came a day after Dominion Energy crews had to fix a gas leak and restore service to everyone in the Woodcreek neighborhood after a line was cut at Stoneridge Drive and the area was blocked off, according to the Lexington Police Department. That’s near the junction with U.S. 1/Augusta Road, less than a mile from Exit 58 on Interstate 20.
In the release, Lexington officials said they “must allow telecommunications providers, such as Ripple Fiber, access to right-of-way on an equal basis under state and federal law.”
But they were able to halt North Carolina-based Ripple Fiber’s work because Lexington holds all providers accountable for adhering to safety standards and protecting vital infrastructure.
The stop work order will remain in effect pending a meeting among Lexington officials, Dominion Energy and the Lexington County Fire Marshal’s Office to address the issue and determine the next steps to prevent further disruptions.
Lexington “will not tolerate damage to critical infrastructure and disruption to entire communities,” Mayor Hazel Livingston said in the release. “Our priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents and protecting the essential services they rely on.”
In addition to Livingston, other Lexington officials included in the release were Mayor Pro-Tem Ron Williams, and Town Council members Todd Carnes, Todd Lyle, Gavin Smith, Will Allen and Jeannie Michaels.
Ripple Fiber officials said members of its management were onsite throughout the Jan. 24 incident when “a gas line was inadvertently disrupted, causing a temporary leak.”
“We ... extend our gratitude to Mayor Livingston for her leadership and partnership during this project, which is one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in Lexington in the past century,” Ripple Fiber officials said in a release shared Sunday with The State. “While community disruptions at scale are rare, Ripple Fiber remains committed to completing this expansive build with minimal disruption, pending approval from local stakeholders to move forward. To date, we’ve connected over 10,000 homes in Lexington County, with approximately 1,000 remaining within Lexington town limits, and hope to announce the completion of the project later this year.”
Residents and businesses who want to contact Ripple Fiber directly with questions or concerns can call 800-359-5767.
This was not the first time that Ripple Fiber’s work in Lexington was temporarily halted by the town.
In March 2024, residents complained to town officials about trucks driving in yards, yards being destroyed and not being put back together, and workers using the bathroom in people’s bushes.
Ripple is not the only fiber company to run afoul of local government in the Midlands.
Lumos Fiber was previously blocked by Lexington County from installing internet cables in the Murraywood neighborhood near Irmo following a water line strike that caused major damage to a residential street. Lumos’ Lexington County ban was lifted in October 2024 after the company’s pledged to have all work crews go through a new round of safety training and required them to attend monthly safety meetings.
Prior to that, Lumos was also stopped from doing work in Columbia in 2023 after similar water and gas line strikes, including one gas leak that required several residents of the Elmwood Park neighborhood to be temporarily evacuated from their homes. The North Carolina-based fiber-optic internet company’s work also caused at least two major water main breaks in other parts of Columbia.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
This story was originally published January 26, 2025 at 2:38 PM with the headline "Another fiber company told to stop working in the Midlands after causing gas leak."
