Construction underway, approvals secured for internet upgrades in Clanton after council update – The Clanton Advertiser

By Carey Reeder | Editor-in-Chief

Chris Montgomery, Vice President of Central Access, provided an update on the expansion of internet coverage in the City of Clanton during the July 18 City Council meeting. Joined by Connie Bainbridge, Manager of Community and Economic Development for Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, the two updated Clanton Mayor Jeff Mims and the City Council on ongoing construction within the city limits and when businesses and residents could expect internet connectivity to be available and ready.

CAEC was awarded seven broadband grants through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) Capital Projects Fund, totaling $22.9 million, to expand the deployment of high-speed internet in Chilton County in April. The expansion will include areas outside of the co-op’s current service footprint and areas where Alabama Power is a customer. It is expected that 6,400 homes and businesses will have high-speed internet after the expansion is complete. The expansion will also provide the best connectivity for residents with fiber-to-the-premises service, meaning residents will have fiber internet directly into their homes or businesses.

Montgomery spoke about Grant Area 6, which covers downtown Clanton on the east side of Highway 31 and extends east across Interstate 65. Underground engineering for the center has been completed and all of the cables for fiber connectivity have been installed. The aerial portion of the project is pending and awaiting other approvals, such as the Joint Use Agreement between Central Access and Alabama Power to place their fiber on Alabama Power towers. That agreement revealed that several towers will need to be replaced before the aerial portion of the center can be completed.

The Alabama Department of Transportation has approved the south side of Clanton to begin construction along Highway 31, and that will begin within the next two to three weeks, Montgomery said. The north side of Clanton along Highway 31 is still awaiting approval to begin construction. Because Highway 31 is a state highway, ALDOT must review everything thoroughly to ensure that the projects fall within guidelines.

Once construction has been completed at all these locations, the installation of the new fiber optic internet can begin in the first part of 2025.

“By doing all of this, we can begin installations in this area in the first quarter of 2025, both residential and commercial,” Montgomery said during the council meeting.

Outside of downtown, construction is underway on the east side of Interstate 65 in Clanton. That area was a previous grant area, so construction can begin there earlier than in other areas, and it will be completed soon. Once completed, Clanton residents on the east side of Interstate 65 will be ready to begin installations. Construction in the area of ​​Highway 145 that comes back into Clanton is awaiting approval from ALDOT to begin as well.

For more information on installation timelines, when residents can expect fiber connectivity in their area, and to sign up for fiber broadband services, please visit Central Access’ website at www.centralaccess.com.