The ambitious project to wire Bloomington with city-wide high-speed fiber internet is forging ahead, with a projected finish line set for the end of 2026. After encountering a snag due to the business collapse of the construction contractor AEG, the initiative, which is a collaboration between the City of Bloomington and Meridiam/mStreet Fiber, is now over halfway done and back on pace.
Although construction in public rights-of-way took a halt since the beginning of the 2025, the ongoing repairs seem to be wrapping up with more than 700 fixes completed by City Engineering since September 2024. "City Engineering has tracked more than 700 repairs to completion since September of 2024, with less than 50 items remaining," according to an update on Bloomington's official website. Additionally, close to 2,500 residential units are set to connect to the network by the close of November as work on three nearly finished zones resumes.
With more than 200 miles of conduit and fiber laid down, the physical footprint of the effort is evident across the cityscape. Residents interested in monitoring progress can do so through the City’s Fiber Construction Progress Map. Those needing support due to construction complications, or inquiring about internet service options, can reach out to GigabitNow Support for assistance.
On a related note, the network's influence on local affordable housing initiatives is already becoming apparent. mStreet Fiber and GigabitNow have begun providing high-speed internet at the Bloomington Housing Authority's Walnut Woods Apartments, guaranteeing access to quality online resources for the community. "The City is thrilled to see this provision from our agreement with Meridiam come to life, bringing affordable high-speed fiber Internet service to residents of Bloomington Housing Authority's apartment community," Rick Dietz, Director of the City of Bloomington Information & Technology Services Department told the City of Bloomington's news portal.
