Residents of Murraywood Subdivision Frustrated by Unresolved Utility Issues
Life in Murraywood, a cozy neighborhood in Lexington County, South Carolina, has turned upside down following a mishap caused by a fiber optic installation last week. The troubles started on September 11, when subcontractors from Lumos Fiber inadvertently struck a water main line while working on cables, leading to significant road damage and a massive sinkhole in the area.
The Sinkhole Saga
Annette Briggs, a resident of the subdivision, described the dramatic scene outside her home. “I looked out the window, and it was literally almost like a river in the road,” she recalled. It was more than just a mere inconvenience; the road woefully swelled with water bursting out from multiple points, creating quite the spectacle. Unfortunately for Briggs, the situation caused her garage and driveway to become completely blocked.
Residents reported that when the water line was hit at the top of a hill, it triggered water to start pooling under the pavement. What followed was alarming – a section of the road near Briggs’ home collapsed under the weight of a utility truck, creating a fault line effect as water gushed downhill. “The road was not just flooded; it literally came apart!” another neighbor exclaimed.
Water Woes
As if the road damage was not enough, several homes experienced water outages that day, with some homeowners even receiving brown water for about 24 hours. This situation left many feeling anxious and frustrated, and it didn’t take long for the local authorities to respond. Lexington County issued a stop work order for the fiber optic project to prevent further issues in the Murraywood area.
A clear message came from Lexington County’s Public Works department, stating, “It is in the best interest to cease work immediately in Lexington County due to the damages done in Murraywood Subdivision.” This email outlined the need for a Corrective Action Plan approved by Public Works to address the damage caused.
Taking Responsibility
In the aftermath, Columbia Water stepped up, acknowledging their responsibility in the incident. It turns out that an error in marking the utility lines led to the chaos. “Whenever this particular subdivision was developed, there was apparently no tracer wire in that location,” explained Clint Shealy, Assistant City Manager for Columbia Water. This unfortunate oversight resulted in utility markings that did not accurately reflect the actual paths of the water lines.
Briggs and her neighbors have not only had to navigate a blocked garage but now also struggle with accessing their mail. “I have to walk through my heels in all this gravel,” Briggs lamented. “It’s so frustrating; I can’t even use my driveway!” This situation is making everyday tasks more cumbersome and inconvenient.
The Path Forward
As of now, residents are eager for repairs to commence. Briggs expressed her concerns about feeling neglected, saying, “It’s not a priority, like we are not important.” The community is desperately hoping for swift action to restore their peaceful neighborhood.
Columbia Water has assured residents that they hope to have the road fixed sometime this week, weather permitting. Shealy expressed genuine regret for the incident, stating, “We apologize that this happened. We do our best to mark our utilities, and we’re doing our best to coordinate with the folks that are putting this infrastructure in.”
Meanwhile, Lumos Fiber is taking steps to rectify the situation and has paused construction until they can address the issue. In a statement, the company noted they are committed to ensuring all safety and compliance standards are met before resuming work, thanking the residents for their patience as they work to build a high-speed fiber network.
Final Thoughts
This is not the first time Lumos has faced challenges in the area; they recently received similar scrutiny for a series of gas leaks in a nearby neighborhood last year. However, officials mention that coordination with Lumos has improved significantly since then.
As the residents of Murraywood await updates on repairs and restoration, one thing is clear: they are ready for a swift resolution and to reclaim their daily routines without the hurdles caused by the unanticipated utility mishap.
