Updated at 3:36 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A road construction crew working near the freeway exit ramp by the Outlet Mall cut CenturyLink’s communications cables, causing a loss of service to more than 1,000 customers in Centralia.
The issue came to light yesterday morning and there is no estimated time of repair yet.
The outage is affecting landline phone service and Internet service, but not cell phones, according to company spokesperson Brian Dalessi.
Dalessi said technicians are working on the problem, but it’s a very involved and complex fix.
“Unfortunately, it’s pretty large copper trunks and two fiberoptic cables,” he said this morning.
Lewis County 911 Manager Craig Larsen said their system based in Chehalis is not affected, except that any person in Centralia without phone service can’t call them, unless they use a cell phone.
One large customer, the Centralia School District, is working to create alternate ways for parents and others to contact the schools if they need to.
District spokesperson Ed Petersen indicated he learned of it about 10 a.m. yesterday, and the best estimate he’s heard so far is it could continue at least until Sunday.
People trying to call them get just a busy signal, Petersen said.
Dalessi said he notified the news media yesterday evening to try to get the word out, to reassure the public technicians are working to isolate the problem and restore services as quickly as possible.
He said he understood the damage was related to the Interstate 5 construction project, and the outage is mostly west of the freeway.
Eleven hundred and seventy two residential and business customers are affected, he said.
Dispatchers at the Lewis County 911 center suggest anyone who is unable to contact them to report an emergency ought to use a cell phone to dial 911 or contact their local fire or police department.
They ask also that members of the public take a moment to check on neighbors, friends or relatives who could be affected by the outage to make sure they are safe and secure.
And further, they ask anyone who sees, hears, or becomes aware of any alarm or emergency or other need for police, fire or medical aid, to please call 911 immediately if they can.