Systems and methods are described for restoring wavelength services in mesh networks using pre-configured, standby lightpaths. The standby lightpaths are pre-cross-connected lightpaths that provide connectivity between switching nodes having a fiber link of degree-2 or higher. The restoration method overcomes the problem of optical impairments for long haul connections, avoids wavelength power balancing delays, provides wavelength conversion for capacity efficiency, and allows sharing of links across nonsimultaneous failures.