Colorful marker flags are popping up all over the city as new fiber optic lines are being installed in many neighborhoods this summer.

Crews hired to do work for Comcast, Nuvera and AT&T/Gigi Power are installing fiber optic lines in numerous areas throughout the city. The Prior Lake Public Works Department has received numerous calls from residents with questions about the work being done.

In advance of the lines being installed, colorful flags and paint have been used to mark underground utilities before digging, as required by state law. Work tickets can be tracked through Gopher State One using this link.

Residents are encouraged to call the communication company directly if they have questions about work being done in their yard. Contact phone numbers for the companies working in the Prior Lake area are:

AT&T/GigaPower (ITG): 844-331-1217

Comcast (Universal Services): 651-432-3000

Nuvera (AA Underground): 844-477-4931

Utility line work cannot be denied as long as the company operates within the requirements of the right-of-way permit, even if a contractor is working in the same area that was recently disturbed by another company, according to city staff. Most residential streets have a 60-foot right-of-way, but there are exceptions.

Flag color coding used to mark underground utility lines is as follows:

• White — area proposed for excavation
• Pink — temporary survey markings
• Red — electric
• Yellow — gas, oil, steam, propane
• Orange — communication, CATV, fiber
• Blue — water
• Purple — reclaimed water, irrigation
• Green — sewer

Contractors are required to restore all property before moving on to their next work location. Property owners encouraged to mark their underground irrigation systems and invisible fencing to avoid damages. Phone numbers previously listed can be used to get specific questions answered and to report damages that have not been repaired.