Los Alamos, N.M., hit by second network outage after fiber line breaks during construction
(UI) — For the second time in a week, Los Alamos, N.M., experienced a network outage on March 17 after construction crews accidentally severed fiber lines along NM-4.
The outage, which began around 8 a.m. on March 17, was caused during trenching work for the NM-4 Water Transmission Line Replacement and Fiber Conduit Installation Project. The contractor, Wagner Construction, was following mapped locations provided by Lumen, the fiber network owner, when the line was unexpectedly cut.
Lumen later confirmed that its locator had properly marked the underground fiber based on a tracer wire, but the wire had become separated from the fiber at some unknown point in the past. Without the wire, the fiber line could not be detected during the routine underground marking process.
The aging fiber line, which has been in place for decades, is brittle and requires extensive excavation—about 50 feet in both directions—to be repaired. The repair process also involves individually splicing delicate fiber strands, which can take hours to complete.
A similar fiber break occurred on March 11 during backfilling efforts after a section of water pipeline was installed. Both incidents prompted a quick response from the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU), Wagner, Lumen, and the Public Regulation Commission (PRC).
“Our contractor is doing everything possible to assist with fiber line repairs,” said DPU Deputy Utility Manager James Alarid. “Before digging, they’ve also been doing a thorough job of potholing, which is an additional step that allows them to visually verify the placement of underground lines. Even still, there’s no guarantee that maps and locates are 100% correct.”
The NM-4 project was initially planned as part of a New Mexico Department of Transportation road reconstruction effort. DPU decided to replace the aging water transmission line feeding White Rock, which has experienced multiple breaks, before the road expansion. The project also includes a new fiber conduit for San Ildefonso Pueblo’s Community Broadband Network.
Once completed, the underground infrastructure along NM-4 will include a new San Ildefonso-owned fiber line, the original Lumen infrastructure, and the upgraded water transmission pipeline.
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