A contractor inadvertently severed fiber optic data lines at the intersection of Ridge Avenue and Leon Place early Monday, taking a wide range of city sites offline for several days.
All city fiber optic lines had been repaired as of about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, City Manager Luke Stowe reported.
The outage began about 9 a.m. Monday.
A notice was posted at the top of the city’s website notifying users that “due to a network disruption, the phone systems and internet are down at some city buildings. For immediate assistance, please contact the 311 Center by calling 847-448-4131, or simply dialing 3-1-1 while in Evanston.”
Notifications were also posted Monday on the city’s Facebook page and X (formerly Twitter), shortly after the incident, city spokesperson Cynthia Vargas said.
At the Evanston Public Library main branch, notices were taped on doors. “Sorry! No Internet,” the sign began, listing services not available.
Among other sites taken offline as a result of the incident were the Clark Street, Dempster and Lighthouse beaches, the Chandler-Newberger Center, Noyes Cultural Arts Center and Fire Stations 3 and 5, officials said. The severed fiber optic line also reportedly affected Police and Fire department communications, with coverage spotty in some areas.
Both the city and Northwestern University’s data operations were affected.
Several sites were back online by 2 p.m. Wednesday, including Clark Street, Dempster and Lighthouse beaches. The Evanston Library was back at 4 p.m.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that the outage has been repaired.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
