Irmo Residents Struggle After Fiber Optic Work Leads to Water Line Break and Sinkhole Formation

Irmo Residents Face Challenges After Fiber Optic Work Goes Awry

In the sleepy city of Irmo, a peaceful Wednesday morning turned chaotic for residents of Willow Bend Court when road work took an unexpected turn. Annette Briggs, a resident of the neighborhood, was gearing up for her day when she was suddenly confronted with a shocking sight. A crew was busy laying a new fiber optic cable near her home, when disaster struck – they hit a submerged water line.

“I’d never seen a road swell up like that before,” exclaimed Briggs, reflecting on the scene. “It rose up at least a foot, and on the sides it formed like a mound, like a mountain was forming.” The water burst forth from the ground, creating a dramatic scene right outside her door.

Despite this unexpected drama, Briggs made the decision to head off to work. But as fate would have it, she soon received a call from a concerned neighbor who quickly informed her about the situation escalating. “He said you’re not parking in your driveway tonight,” she recalls, realizing the impact of the water line break. “And I said, ‘I figured.’”

Neighborhood Impact and Infrastructure Issues

The incident had lasting effects on the Murraywood neighborhood, as multiple homes lost water supply for several hours. Not only did the water surge create extensive damage, but it also led to the formation of a sinkhole that compromised the integrity of the street. Following the break, Briggs noted, “several holes were visible along the roadway afterwards.”

In response to the disruption, Lexington County promptly ordered Lumos Fiber—the company responsible for the fiber optic work—to cease work immediately within the county limits. A letter from the Public Works Department highlighted the critical need to stop work until a thorough assessment and corrective action plan could be put in place.

This unfortunate event is just one of many mishaps linked to Lumos Fiber since they began expanding into the Midlands area. In previous incidents in Columbia, Lumos faced halts due to multiple gas leaks caused during their excavation efforts, which even necessitated the temporary evacuation of residents in Elmwood Park.

Challenges for Daily Life

In the wake of the water line breach, Briggs found herself parking at a neighbor’s house for the week. “I’ve been carrying my work computer over upturned gravel to reach my house,” she described, dodging the crudely formed potholes left in the wake of the incident. Adding to her woes, her roommate has barely returned home since due to the difficulty in navigating the damaged street.

Upon returning home that fateful night, Briggs discovered that her entire property was cordoned off, leaving her struggling to find parking even in her front yard. “The mail hasn’t been delivered since the strike,” she lamented. As a result, she has been forced to make a seven-mile trek to the post office off Broad River Road just to collect her mail.

Refusing to let the situation steal her spirits, she continued to voice her concerns. “I couldn’t put my garbage out on the road Monday because there’s nowhere to put it,” she noted, tying in the mundane difficulties amidst the bigger issues at hand.

Efforts to Repair the Damage

Columbia Water, the service provider for the area, dispatching their team to assess the mess. While they didn’t provide immediate comments, they did mention to local sources that they would take responsibility for repairs since the water line had not been properly marked. As crews worked diligently on Willow Bend Court, Briggs expressed her frustration over the lack of communication from both the city and Lumos.

“They ruined a big pretty butterfly bush I had in my yard, and I feel like somebody should buy me another one,” she concluded, her determination shining through despite the challenges she faced. As rebuilding efforts began, one can only hope that the lessons learned from this incident will pave the way for safer infrastructure practices in the future.