About 250 people remained without natural gas service near the area of Front Street and North Lincoln Avenue for much of the day Wednesday after crews hit a gas line that morning.

Alliant Energy spokeman 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.

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.

At about noon Wedensday, he said Alliant Energy crews would be knocking on doors and waiting for people to get home to finish the process.

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.