A subdivision northeast of Durango has been experiencing persistent problems with landline and internet service for at least a week now, a nuisance that residents say has been “a real pain.”

At least three people living in the Florida River Estates neighborhood near the intersection of Florida Road and County Road 234 have not been able to use their landline telephones for hours at a time, even days. Internet service has been spotty too, they said, but it’s not as much of a problem as the phone interruptions.

“The problems we’re experiencing the last couple weeks – it’s never been this bad,” said John Bernazzani, vice president of the Florida River Estates Homeowners Association. “There has been on and off service over the years, sporadic stuff. But yeah, it’s been real bad.”

Paul DeJulio, president of the homeowners association, said he’s been away on vacation but has gotten emails about the service interruptions. When he was home Sunday morning, his landline didn’t work. Some people work from home, DeJulio said, potentially posing a problem for residents.

Indiana Reed, a resident of the neighborhood, said she’s had trouble with her landline for at least a week, and when she calls someone to do something about it, they never show up.

Residents affected by this service interruption have their phone and internet through CenturyLink. A representative of CenturyLink declined to comment in an online chat, provided an automated informational line for customers only and suggested customers experiencing problems should contact the company.

Bernazzani has seen crews working on a connection box that supplies telecommunication connectivity to the entire neighborhood, and a water main broke this week that flooded the space where wires were. And the fast snow-melt has also caused the box to flood, causing more problems for the neighborhood.

“I was out of internet for one day, it was just not good,” Bernazzani said. “Not being able to be in town all the time, my real estate business relying on the internet, it’s quite an inconvenience.”

bhauff@durangoherald.com