Irmo Faces Setbacks as Lumos Fiber Stops Work After Utility Damage
IRMO, SC – This week, the community of Irmo faced a bit of a hiccup in its quest for high-speed internet as Lumos Fiber, a North Carolina-based fiber optic company, was ordered to cease operations in the Murraywood neighborhood due to damage caused to utility lines. The incident occurred on Friday following an unfortunate water line strike on Willow Bend Court that disrupted water service for several households and damaged a roadway.
Water Line Strike Creates Chaos
The troubles began on Wednesday when Lumos crews mistakenly struck a Columbia Water line. Water began pouring out onto the street, prompting immediate action from city officials. Clint Shealy with Columbia Water shared that the situation was serious enough that if the damage was as bad as suspected, they might even have to create a sinkhole just to access the broken pipe. While the extent of the damage was still uncertain at the time, officials indicated they would need to investigate whether the water line had been marked correctly before proceeding with any insurance claims against Lumos for the chaos caused.
Community Impact
The Lexington County Public Works Department stepped in quickly, emailing Lumos to say that it was best to halt work in the area immediately. They expressed that a Corrective Action Plan must be submitted and approved before any further work could take place. Local residents, no doubt, were anxious to get their water service restored after several hours of being outages. Such disruptions can be incredibly frustrating for an entire community, especially when they stem from construction work meant to improve services.
A History of Setbacks for Lumos Fiber
It’s not the first time Lumos Fiber has faced criticism while trying to expand its reach in the Midlands. Just last year, the company was halted from laying fiber in Columbia after causing multiple gas leaks which led to evacuations in the Elmwood Park neighborhood. Following that incident, they were granted the green light to resume work but not without continuing complications throughout the summer where they struck water mains again in other parts of Columbia.
Ambitious Plans for High-Speed Internet
Despite these setbacks, Lumos has ambitious plans for expanding high-speed internet access. They had announced plans last fall to lay down a whopping 1,200 miles of fiber-optic cable throughout Richland and Lexington counties. They had secured the necessary franchise agreements from local municipalities like Columbia, West Columbia, and Irmo.
The company just began laying cables in Irmo last week, and community executives had high hopes for these improvements, with ideas of installing WiFi hotspots in local parks. But now, as they face this latest setback, it’s anyone’s guess how much longer residents might have to wait for these upgrades.
What’s Next for Lumos Fiber?
As residents eagerly anticipate better internet services, it remains unclear how long Lumos will take to draft and submit their corrective action plan. Public Works officials have not outlined any deadline for the plan’s approval or for the company to resume work. Lumos has not commented on the situation yet, leaving the community holding its breath for updates.
This situation serves as a reminder of the meticulous balance required between improving infrastructure and ensuring that necessary precautions are taken to protect existing services. As Irmo continues to journey towards better connectivity, the hope is that these bumps in the road will not deter the community’s progress.
