A recent attempt to steal copper wiring on the H-3 freeway prompted state transportation officials to ask the public Tuesday to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.
Department of Transportation crews discovered the attempt April 23 after traffic monitoring cameras on the Halawa side of the tunnels went black.
Would-be thieves snipped the copper wiring at the junction box near the Halawa interchange, causing all six traffic monitoring cameras and about a dozen call boxes on the Halawa side of the H-3 tunnels to go dead.
The state uses the cameras to monitor the freeway to determine whether any type of response is needed to mishaps such as an accident or stall. However, the images captured on the cameras are too small to see people, especially at night.
"The cameras are not made to see people," Transportation Deputy Director Jadine Urasaki said. "They are not security cameras. They are traffic cameras. We need the public’s help to help us catch (the thieves)."
Apparently the thieves were preparing to steal the copper and planned to return to finish the job. Typically, copper wiring thieves will cut the wires at one end, look for the other junction box, cut the wires at the other end, then pull out the wiring, Urasaki said.
"They did not physically pull the wire yet," Urasaki said. "That’s why we’re asking the public … if they see anything suspicious to please report that to 911 immediately."
Fiber-optic communications cabling, which affects control of electronic message boards above the roadway, was also cut. The boards provide advisory messages to motorists.
"It’s critical for our operations," Urasaki said. "It notifies the motorists what’s happening."
Meanwhile the state is completing repairs from damage two years ago due to copper wiring thefts on the H-1 and H-2 freeways.
Repairing the damage done in 2010 to the H-1 lighting cost about $770,000. Repairs to the H-2 freeway wiring amounted to $2.5 million.
That work is expected to be completed in June for the H-1 freeway and August for the H-2.
The copper theft problem is something "that’s ongoing," Urasaki said. "It’s not something that pops up."
No estimate was available on how much the H-3 repairs would cost or how long they would take, but it will be a while before the cameras are working again, she said.
Transportation personnel have begun to assess the H-3 damage, but since the lines were simply cut at a junction box and no copper was actually stolen, it would "probably be an easier fix" than what was done for the other freeways, Urasaki said.
In the other cases, the magnitude of the damage was far greater, she said. Wiring was actually removed, which called for plans, specifications and putting the jobs out to bid.
Damage was done not only to the wiring, but also to the junction box.
The junction boxes cannot be welded or bolted down to secure them because that would violate the electrical code, Urasaki said.
Motorists traveling the H-3 who observe a possible copper wiring theft or suspicious activity are asked to call 911 immediately and report the location to police.
