SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- August 27, 2026 -- Midwest Fiber Networks (MWFN) and Midwest Fiberpath, LLC, along with partner Hawkeye Land Co., announced an agreement on Aug. 27, 2026, to develop and commercialize approximately 1,200 miles of fiber corridors connecting Chicago, Omaha, Minneapolis and Kansas City. MWFN will serve as the key provider for connectivity services along Hawkeye's right-of-way corridor. Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2027, with engineering and materials procurement already underway and shipments due before the end of 2026.
MWFN Takes Lead Role Selling Capacity Along Hawkeye's Corridor
MWFN will manage commercialization and delivery of conduit, dark fiber and scalable lit services across the route. Target customers include carriers, hyperscalers, data centers, enterprises, utilities, and private- and public-sector organizations. The corridor is built as a long-term regional platform, giving customers added options for capacity, geographic reach and route diversity across the Midwest.
Executives Point To Combined Market And Land Expertise
Nik Ivancevic, Managing Partner of MWFN, said the agreement brings together market knowledge and infrastructure capability across the region. "By working with Fiberpath and Hawkeye in Hawkeye's corridor, MWFN will be able to expand the connectivity options available to carriers, businesses and other network customers seeking scalable capacity and greater route diversity across key Midwest markets," Ivancevic said. Ken Anderson, Managing Director of Fiberpath, described the arrangement as combining regional market knowledge, operational experience and infrastructure expertise.
Rick Stickle, CEO of Hawkeye and Managing Director of Fiberpath, called the partnership the highest and best use of Hawkeye's property rights.
Route Follows Rock Island Railroad Land Across Four States
Hawkeye Land Co., based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has held the exclusive, perpetual right to grant easements along former Rock Island Railroad corridors since 1985. That right covers 106 Midwest counties across four states, including current rail corridors running from Council Bluffs to Joliet and from Minneapolis to Kansas City. Hawkeye has sold crossing and longitudinal easements to utilities, municipalities and other applicants for more than 40 years.
That land already carries active rail infrastructure.
Materials Are Already Being Ordered For A 2027 Build
The project has moved into advanced engineering and materials procurement, with shipments scheduled to arrive before the close of 2026. Physical construction is set to start in Spring 2027. All three companies described the corridor as the foundation for long-term network expansion tied to rising demand for resilient, high-capacity connectivity across the region.