Liberty VI is continuing its fixed fiber network construction process with four new projects on St. Croix and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) starting Thursday, March 2. The projects, which will take approximately seven weeks overall to complete, will benefit all customers in the East End, Green Cay and Sunny Isle-Clairmont areas on St. Croix, and Estate Smith Bay on St. Thomas.
Part of Liberty’s participation in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Connect USVI initiative, this project will use the company’s fiber-to-the-home standard to
increase bandwidth capacity for high-speed data demand. Once completed, Liberty will deliver a fixed fiber network with more resiliency, redundancy and improved performance.
“This is just the beginning of a large project that, upon completion, will bring true broadband connectivity to the USVI to facilitate economic growth in the territory. The work will also enable us to deliver fiber to a much-needed wireless tower to increase capacity and coverage, plus added capabilities to local first responders,” said Bala Balakrishnan, general manager of Liberty VI. “We are working on rapidly increasing the number of homes and businesses that can get access to fiber, as we get the necessary permits.”
The work that will take place in St. Croix’s East End area includes placing underground conduits and fiber optic cable at Seven Flags Road going east on East End Road. In the Green Cay area, the work starts at Mount Welcome Road and intercepts the Liberty Core Vault, then heads south down Seven Flags Road. The same work will take place in the Sunny Isle-Clairmont area, starting at Highway 73 to the end of Scenic Road and intercepting the Liberty Core Vault.
On St. Thomas, crews will also bury conduits and fiber optic cable in the Estate Smith Bay area, starting at Emile Milo Francis Memorial Drive and intercepting the Liberty Core Vault, which is located at the entrance to Point Pleasant Resort.
Construction on St. Croix will take place on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on St. Thomas. Details will be available at the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works’ (DPW) website at https://dpw.vi.gov/.
Burying the fiber cables increases the network’s resiliency while protecting it from hazards such as natural disasters and vandalism attempts. The work also uses a micro-trenching technique, which produces a 1 ¾ -inch cut and uses existing ducts where possible, thus diminishing pavement breakage and dust emission significantly. In addition, crews will be using other underground technologies to minimize the impact to the roadways.
These jobs will be performed with minimal traffic impact. However, drivers should expect delays due to lane and partial road closures and must exercise caution when traveling in these locations. Residents and business owners in these communities should park their vehicles in their properties and not on the street to avoid obstructions or possible damages.
Liberty VI will be providing updates on its website: https://www.libertyvi.com/news and other media on when and where the company will be working around the territory so that people can plan their daily commutes ahead of time.
