Fiber Optic Trenching Project – Mohave County, AZ

Devco Development & Engineering completed a large-scale fiber optic trenching project in Mohave County, Arizona. The project included utility delineation, trench excavation, existing direct-buried cable exposure and removal, microduct conduit installation, detectable warning tape placement, hand vault installation, marker post installation, and trench backfilling.

Project Overview

This underground utility construction project supported a major fiber infrastructure route through desert and mountainous terrain in Mohave County. Devco provided the labor, equipment, and field coordination needed to excavate, remove existing cable, install new conduit, and backfill the trench using native spoils where acceptable.

Utility Delineation

• Arizona 811 / Blue Stake: Devco secured and maintained a valid Arizona Dig Alert ticket for public utility markings.
• Utility Awareness: Existing underground utilities were reviewed before excavation activities began.
• Field Coordination: Work areas were coordinated around existing utility corridors, access conditions, and changing terrain.

Trench Excavation

• Excavated approximately 175,200 linear feet of trench for underground fiber infrastructure.
• Trench depth ranged from approximately 42” to 72” at the centerline.
• Trench width was approximately 1 foot wide at the bottom.
• Used excavators and underground utility construction equipment to complete trenching operations.
• Stockpiled native spoils adjacent to the trench for reuse where acceptable.

Existing Cable Exposure and Removal

• Exposed existing direct-buried telephone cable along the trench alignment.
• Removed existing cable after exposure and verification.
• Cut and wound recovered cable onto customer-provided wrecking reels.
• Maintained trench production while coordinating cable removal and new conduit installation.

Conduit, Tape, Vault, and Marker Post Installation

• Installed four customer-supplied microduct conduits in the open trench.
• Placed conduit at approximately the same depth as the removed existing cable.
• Installed detectable warning tape approximately 18” below finished grade.
• Placed customer-supplied hand vaults at planned intervals along the route.
• Installed customer-supplied marker posts at surveyed locations.

Trench Backfilling

• Backfilled the trench after conduit, warning tape, vaults, and marker posts were installed.
• Used native spoils for backfill where acceptable.
• Provided labor and equipment needed to complete trench backfill operations.
• Coordinated backfilling with ongoing production to help keep the project moving efficiently.

Difficult Terrain Construction

• Completed work through desert and mountainous terrain conditions.
• Coordinated equipment access along long utility alignments.
• Managed production across remote work areas with changing ground conditions.
• Planned trenching operations around slope, access, and field conditions common to Arizona utility corridors.

Project Considerations

• Large-scale underground utility trenching required detailed planning and daily field coordination.
• Existing cable removal had to be coordinated with new conduit placement.
• Vaults and marker posts were installed to support future access and utility identification.
• Detectable warning tape was placed to help identify the underground utility corridor in the future.

Project Outcome

This Mohave County fiber optic trenching project was completed to support a major underground telecommunications infrastructure upgrade. Devco provided trench excavation, existing cable removal, microduct conduit installation, vault placement, marker post installation, warning tape placement, and native backfill across approximately 175,200 linear feet of underground utility work.

Underground Utility Construction Services

Devco Development & Engineering provides utility trenching, fiber optic conduit installation, underground utility construction, hydro excavation, utility potholing, directional drilling, and infrastructure construction services throughout Arizona and California.