Snow Plow Marking Flags
- Details
- Created: Thursday, 21 December 2017 15:49
- Written by Lareina Taing
At some point in time, you’ve probably noticed small colored flags placed in your yard or around town by locators to identify underground utility lines. Recently, some snow plowing and property management companies have begun using these types of flags instead of traditional wood or fiberglass stakes to mark curbs, driveways, and other features to guide equipment operators when plowing. These flags may be blank or even labeled with a company logo or markings.
Gopher State One Call (GSOC) would like to remind everyone to take a few minutes and examine the various types of flags and markers that may be installed during this time of year, so that you can see the difference between plowing routes and underground utilities. It can be easy to mistake these snow plow flags as utility marking flags.
Vacuum excavation or “soft dig” is a non-mechanical and less invasive method of excavation. A blast of air or water is first directed into the dig site to loosen soil and break up any large materials. It is categorized as air or hydro vacuum excavation depending on how the soil is broken down. An air vacuum hose is then used to remove the debris from the hole and transfer it to a specially designed tank. Stored spoil can be transported elsewhere or, if dry, re-used as fill. Hydro excavation prevents the re-use of wet material for refilling the hole.1
Gopher State One Call will be switching to Late Fall and Winter hours on Wednesday, Nov. 1st. Business hours will now be Monday through Friday from 7AM - 5PM. Only emergency tickets will be accepted outside of those hours, but you can always file a ticket online 24/7.