The ban on MetroNet construction in Fishers was lifted at 1:30pm Tuesday.  The Internet service provider has been digging around Fishers installing fiber optic lines.

Fishers City Councilman John Weingardt told fellow council members at a Monday evening work session that MetroNet had been ordered to halt work around Fishers after several cases of rupturing natural gas lines around his subdivision.

State Senator Jim Merritt became involved.  He represents Fall Creek Township in Fishers and chairs the State Senate committee on utilities.  Natural gas utility Vectren was also involved in resolving the issue, since the gas lines belong to the company.

“Metronet has agreed to begin utilizing a new, safer method for digging in dry conditions, known as hydro-excavation,” according to a statement from the City of Fishers. “This method is expected to prevent gas line damage. It will create some noise as the machine involves water pressure and a vacuum, with the noise level similar to a large lawn mower. As such, Metronet will be limited in the hours of permissible excavation from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.”