Lumos Fiber Resumes Work in Irmo After Safety Plan Approval

Exciting News for Irmo: Lumos Fiber Cleared to Continue Work!

Irmo residents, gather around! We have some great news coming your way. The fiber optics company, Lumos Fiber, which was previously halted from laying down internet cables in the Murraywood neighborhood, has finally received the green light to get back to work! After an unfortunate incident last month that saw a water line struck, Lumos had to stop its operations, but it seems that brighter days are ahead.

What Happened?

Last month, disaster struck when Lumos’ crews accidentally damaged a water line during their installation work. The resulting chaos led to significant damage on a residential street, and as you can imagine, no one was too happy about that. In response, the Lexington County Department of Public Works ordered the company to halt all work until they could put together a proper “corrective action” plan. This is where things got a bit tricky for Lumos.

A Step in the Right Direction

Fast forward to this week—during a council meeting, Lexington County Council Chairwoman Beth Carrigg announced that Lumos had successfully met the requirements outlined in that action plan. She expressed that there have been concerns regarding several companies running fiber optic cables and how essential it is to ensure that safety and communication are prioritized.

“We’ve had several meetings with Lumos. They had an action plan they had to meet to clean up and move forward, and they have met those requirements,” said Chairwoman Carrigg. Isn’t that reassuring to hear? It sounds like Lumos is taking the necessary steps to ensure no such incidents occur again.

What’s Next for Lumos Fiber?

Under the new plan, Lumos crews must undergo additional safety training, which is scheduled for the foreseeable future. Moreover, each crew member is required to attend monthly safety meetings. This proactive measure aims to enhance communication with local utility providers and ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to locating buried utilities before digging begins.

One interesting aspect of the plan is that Lumos will now be using ground-penetrating radar to help identify what lies beneath the surface before work begins—how cool is that? Furthermore, if any crews are found at fault for further damage, they will be removed from the project entirely. Talk about accountability!

Community Considerations

As part of their commitment to the community, Lumos will also be closely monitoring the Irmo work area to assess restoration needs. They plan to provide dedicated locations for trash removal and even restroom facilities for their workers. This ensures that the project does not disrupt the neighborhood more than necessary.

Lumos has also committed to notifying utility owners if their team struggles to identify the location of any buried utilities. This is a vital step in maintaining transparency and ensuring that everyone involved is well-informed during the installation process.

Looking Ahead

The past few months haven’t exactly been smooth sailing for Lumos, considering their recent hiccups in Columbia, where similar issues had them put on pause last year due to gas line strikes. But now they’re back on track, and with the proper franchise agreements in place, they are ready to lay down a whopping 1,200 miles of fiber-optic cable across Richland and Lexington counties.

Once fully installed, this extensive network is set to provide local residents with much faster internet speeds—something we could all use these days. Oh, and let’s not forget, this will also include the installation of WiFi in local town parks. Who wouldn’t want to have internet access while enjoying a lovely day outdoors?

Final Thoughts

So, Irmo, keep an eye out for Lumos crews back in your neighborhood! They have a fresh plan in place and the promise of improved communication and safety. If any concerns arise during their work, locals are encouraged to reach out so any potential problems can be addressed swiftly. We’re all rooting for Lumos as they embark on this next chapter!