Why Texas Roads Have Colorful Utility Markings

(Mix 93-1) When you’re driving around Dallas, you’re used to seeing the usual white and yellow lines on the road — they tell you where to go, when to stop, and help keep everyone safe. But every now and then, you’ll spot some other markings, bright red, blue, green, orange, or even pink spray paint splashed across the pavement or sidewalk. What’s that all about, and what do those colors mean?

Those colorful lines aren’t graffiti; they’re actually important markers for construction crews. You’ll often see them near roadwork zones or areas where digging is planned. The spray paint indicates to workers what’s buried underground, so they don’t accidentally hit a power line, water pipe, or gas main.

Why Texas Uses These Markings

So what do the colors mean? The system was created by the American Public Works Association and standardized under the American National Standard for Safety Colors. Here’s a quick guide:

What the Different Paint Colors Mean

red - electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables
orange - communication, alarm, or signal lines and conduit
green - sewer line and drain
blue - potable water
purple - reclaimed water or irrigation
white - proposed excavation area
yellow - gas, oil, steam, petroleum line
pink - temporary survey marking

There are additional colors; these are the main colors you'll see spray-painted on the pavement.

So, if you see red spray paint on the pavement, that’s a heads-up that live power lines are nearby, definitely not a place to start digging! Or if you dig near a green line, you could rupture a sewer line and discover a foul smell, fast.

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Before You Dig: Call 8-1-1 First

Before you dig on your own property (even for something as small as planting a tree or putting up a fence), make the free call to 8-1-1. They’ll send someone to mark underground utilities so you can avoid a costly or dangerous mistake.

A quick check now could save you from a huge headache and possibly a shocking surprise later on.