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Kane County approves fiber backbone redundancy; Helm Electric recommended as contractor
Summary
The committee approved a fiber optic backup path and recommended Helm Electric Facility Solutions as the low responsive bidder to add redundancy between the KDOT office and the traffic fiber network.
KANE COUNTY, Ill. — The Transportation Committee voted Sept. 16 to proceed with a fiber‑optic backup connection to reduce the risk of a single cut severing communications between Kane County Division of Transportation (KDOT) and its traffic fiber network.
Staff said roughly a five‑mile stretch of fiber currently forms a single‑point vulnerability: damage there could cut communications to traffic signals and control systems. The proposed improvement will install an alternate conduit and fiber path so an automatic backup path can take over if the primary route is severed.
The project was publicly bid; staff recommended awarding to Helm Electric Facility Solutions after concluding the apparent low bidder did not meet responsible‑bidder ordinance guidelines and a full compliance review. The committee approved the recommendation by roll call.
Staff also said the project includes pulling an IT fiber in the same conduit to preserve phones and server connectivity at KDOT in the event of an outage. Committee members asked whether the new fiber enters the building in the same location as existing fiber; staff said the final segment (the last 80–100 feet) is in a similar location, but the county will still gain resilience from the different route into the longer network.
Committee members discussed alternatives such as wireless, but staff said radio/wireless alternatives posed bandwidth and licensing constraints and would not meet the division's 1‑gigabit network requirement at the price they were willing to pay.
The contract recommendation passed on a recorded roll call.
