Natural gas service was restored by 7 p.m. Wednesday to more than 200 Albert Lea residents in the area of Front Street and North Lincoln Avenue who had been without gas service since earlier that morning.

Alliant Energy spokesman Justin Foss said Alliant Energy crews worked through the day and into the night to restore natural gas service to homes affected after road contractors hit a 4-inch gas main before 7:30 a.m.

Foss said all but 40 of the people affected had their service restored, and Alliant Energy crews left door tags on those houses to inform the residents they could call the utility company 24 hours a day to get their service back in place. He estimated that a few of them called overnight, but a few residences might also have people on vacation or not at the houses for some reason.

After the gas main was hit, residents of a dozen homes were evacuated on the north side of Front Street and the west side of North Lincoln Avenue; however, they were allowed to return to their homes just before 8:40 a.m.

At that time, the gas line was capped; however, natural gas service — which could also affect such amenities as hot water and furnaces — had not yet been restored.

He noted that Alliant Energy crews had to shut off service manually outside at the gas meter at each home affected, repair everything on the line, turn back on the service at the meters and then go inside each affected home to re-light pilot lights.

“This is a pretty big hit,” Foss said.

The dead-end street where the gas leak originated had been closed at its intersection with Front Street while work is being completed to replace the sanitary sewer.

Contractors with Heselton Construction were contracted for the project, which also involves the replacement of the watermain, curb and gutter and sidewalk, and then paving the surface, which had previously been gravel.

Foss used the incident to remind people — whether homeowner or contractor — to call 811 before they dig.

“Even if you’re digging a few inches in the ground, you don’t always know what’s underground,” he said.

There could be natural gas, electricity lines or even cable buried underground. Once the lines get marked, he encouraged people to follow those lines.

If you’re within two feet of the line, he suggested people use a shovel to dig and not a heavy piece of machinery.