Reels from fibre and broadband builds
Fibre builds empty reels by the hundred: fibre cable on plywood and nailed reels, and empty duct reels from the conduit it is pulled through. California's middle-mile network, city fibre projects and private builds are all in the ground across the region now, and their contractors' yards are full of empties.
- Usual flanges
- 24 to 96 in
- Areas it fills
- 6
- Lanes
- 3
Fibre and broadband builds around Los Angeles
California is building a statewide middle-mile broadband network, about 421 miles of it in Los Angeles County, due by December 2026. Arcadian Infracom was selected to build more than 300 miles of middle-mile fibre in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. On top of that, cities are building their own: Huntington Park won a $25 million state grant to build about 50 miles of city fibre.
A fibre build uses two kinds of reel. The conduit, or duct, goes in first, delivered on large wooden reels of 48 to 96 inches. Then the fibre cable is pulled through it from smaller reels, often plywood. Both kinds are emptied in quantity as a project moves along a route.
A long fibre route moves its laydown yards as it goes, which means empties appear in different places month to month. Telling us where the next yard will be is the best way to keep the old one clear.
Where the reels pile up
Fibre contractors stage materials in yards along the routes they are building: in the Gateway Cities and South Los Angeles, along the 10 and the 60 into the Inland Empire, and in city-fibre towns such as Huntington Park. When a section is finished, the empties come back to the contractor's main yard, often in Ontario, Fontana or the San Fernando Valley.
What kind of reels
Large duct reels from 48 to 96 inches, mostly one-way and lighter than cable reels of the same size, and smaller plywood and nailed fibre reels of 24 to 42 inches.
How a pickup fits the work
Fibre reels come in waves as a route is built. We work with a contractor's schedule, clearing a yard between phases, and a recurring pickup suits a build that will run for months. Duct reels stack well on edge, so a full deck of them is efficient.
Where the reels go next
Empty duct reels are among the easiest large reels to place. They are light for their size, uniform in build, and popular with growers and ranches. Plywood fibre reels, if they have been kept dry, resell to makers and event buyers. Weathered or broken ones are recycled.
When the reels come off the job
Timing follows the route. Duct goes in first, and its empty reels pile up within weeks; fibre cable is pulled later, sometimes months later, and its smaller reels follow. A middle-mile build due by the end of 2026 is near its peak for both, and city builds like Huntington Park's run on their own grant schedules. We plan clear-outs around each contractor's phases rather than the calendar.
The usual mistake on fibre jobs is leaving empty duct reels lying flat in a yard to save space. Rain pools on the upper flange, the plywood or boards swell, and within a season a resalable reel has become scrap. Stand them on edge and chock them. The other is mixing in reels with cut duct still wound on; strip it, or tell us, because pipe adds weight and changes the plan.
A pickup, stop by stop
Separate duct and fibre reels
They are different sizes and go to different buyers.
Count by flange
Duct reels are usually 48 inches and up; fibre reels 24 to 42 inches.
Give us the phase plan
Tell us when sections finish and the yard needs clearing.
Clear between phases
Full runs for duct reels; fibre reels ride along with them.
Reel sizes from fibre and broadband builds
Lanes that serve fibre and broadband builds
Other industries that empty reels here
Questions from fibre and broadband builds
Do you take empty duct reels?
Yes. They load on edge like any large reel, and Dura-Line's own chart shows how many fit a truck.
Are duct reels lighter than cable reels?
Often. Dura-Line's 96 inch duct reel weighs about 250 lb; a heavy 96 inch cable reel can weigh over 1,000 lb.
Can you keep up with a long build?
A recurring pickup on the lane the build follows is the usual answer.
Do plywood fibre reels resell?
Dry, clean ones do, to makers and event buyers.
Who builds the middle-mile network?
The state’s programme uses contractors and partners such as Arcadian Infracom. We collect from the contractors’ yards, not as a partner of the network.
Do fibre reels pile up in cities?
Yes. City fibre projects like Huntington Park’s stage reels in town, close to the routes they are building.
What sizes are fibre cable reels?
Usually 24 to 42 inches, plywood or nailed. Duct reels are bigger.
Do you take reels from telecom maintenance crews?
Yes, from their yards, by the stack or by the deck.