Before you tackle an outdoor home-improvement project, remember to call Miss Utility of Virginia to avoid damaging underground utility lines.

Call 811 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays (except Virginia state and federal holidays) to reach Miss Utility employees, who will process information about your project and notify utility operators of the planned excavation.

Utility operators will send locators to the site to mark underground utility lines at no charge. Virginia requires that Miss Utility be called at least 3 working days before the planned work.

For details, call the Virginia State Corporation Commission at (804) 371-9980 or visit www.missutilityof virginia.com. -- Julie Young