Broadband internet will soon become a reality for 2,300 homes in the Winlock area.
“In the first week of November, residents will begin to see roadside trenching and boring, and there will be equipment and reels of orange conduit placed along roads,” ToledoTel Vice President and COO Dale Merten said during a Lewis County commissioners business meeting Tuesday. “We anticipate being able to connect people to broadband by early spring of 2024.”
A contractor will soon begin construction to expand internet access to the area, with the area expected to be online in the spring of 2024. The project is funded by a $23.5 million competitive grant from the Washington State Broadband Office, with ToledoTel contributing up to $2.3 million.
“Getting our citizens connected to high-speed internet is a really exciting change — it allows us to get plugged into the modern age to be able to work from home, access online education and entertainment options,” Commissioner Lindsey Pollock said.
