I-405 Microwave Back Haul Network

Project Summary

The challenge presented in the I405 Sepulveda Pass Widening Project was to provide internet access to six field offices within budget and on schedule. As one of the largest design-build projects in the country at the time, the project featured an Integrated Project Office (IPO) and six field offices located approximately 14 miles north of the main office. These northern offices faced logistical difficulties in obtaining internet access, primarily due to inadequate infrastructure and geographic location within a canyon.

To address this issue and reduce costs, a wireless backhaul network was designed, configured, and managed. This solution utilized line-of-sight microwave radio antennas from Ceragon Networks. The IPO's Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) circuit was extended to the roof via a fiber optic cable and a 2-foot wireless microwave radio was installed. The antenna on our building connected to the Pepperdine College antenna, which had three radio antennas on its rooftop; one connected to the IPO and two pointing to the field offices.

The first radio antenna on Pepperdine connected to the Los Angeles Veterans Hospital. Power was not available on the roof, so Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) Ethernet was run from the Ceragon switches to the roof. This connected the hospital to our Segment 1 office, located off I405 and Wilshire Blvd in the Caltrans yard. The second radio on the hospital connected to our Exposition Yard.

The second radio at Pepperdine College connected to the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy. These radio antennas on the mountain presented a unique challenge as there was no power available. This issue was resolved through the use of solar panels and a battery bank. The Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy utilized three wireless radio antennas to connect to field offices in the canyon. The first wireless antenna connected to the Equipment Yard, located off of I405 and Getty Center Dr., responsible for all heavy equipment on the project. The second wireless antenna connected to Segment 2 and Utility Yard, located off of Sepulveda Blvd, approximately a mile north of the equipment yard. The third wireless radio antenna connected to the Segment 3 office, located off of Sepulveda Blvd and Mission Dump Rd, in charge of the final segment of work on the project.

All field offices utilized the internet from the IPO, local LAN, IPO servers, and the voice-over IP system through this wireless backhaul network. The estimated cost savings for the project was $250,000, achieved through the elimination of reoccurring MPLS internet costs and the need for expensive routers and network equipment at each field office. Each site required only a Ceragon wireless microwave radio, layer-3 managed switch(s), and wireless access point(s).

The successful coordination of all involved agencies and technologies was a significant contributor to the success of the I405 Sepulveda Pass Widening Project.

LINK: I-405 Microwave Back Haul Network