The Town of Lexington has issued a stop work order for the Ripple Fiber company following repeated incidents where they have hit and damaged Dominion Energy gas lines.

While Lexington does have to offer the company a right-of-way since they are a telecommunications company, the town is entitled to hold all providers accountable for following safety standards and protecting the town’s already existing and necessary infrastructure.

“The Town will not tolerate damage to critical infrastructure and disruption to entire communities,” Mayor Hazel Livingston said in the press release. “Our priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents and protecting the essential services they rely on.”

The stop work order will remain in effect until a meeting has been held with the Town of Lexington, Dominion Energy and the Lexington County Fire Marshal’s Office to determine next steps to prevent more incidents.

Ripple Fiber provided the Chronicle with the following statement on  Jan. 29 after this story's original publication: 

“On January 24, during the installation of underground fiber lines in Lexington, a gas line was inadvertently disrupted, causing a temporary leak. Local authorities were notified immediately and assisted in resolving the situation quickly and safely. Ripple Fiber management was onsite throughout the incident, working closely with safety professionals and first responders to ensure public safety. We deeply appreciate their swift action and collaboration.

We also 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. 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.

We thank everyone for their patience and understanding throughout this process as we bring critical infrastructure to the area and the high-speed internet that will delight the residents.”