An underground fiber line accidentally severed by a construction worker Tuesday cut long distance service to Sprint customers throughout much of the 785 area code for several hours.

The accident occurred at 10:46 a.m. between Lawrence and Topeka, said Charles Fleckenstein, spokesman for Overland Park-based Sprint. He didn’t know how many customers were affected. Service was restored by 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, he said.

The problem was caused by a backhoe operator, Fleckenstein said.

“We sent technicians in to resplice that fiber,” he said. “It’s like splicing speaker wire, but it’s much more technical than that.”

The service loss affected the way some area businesses conducted their work, employees said.

At the Hallmark Cards plant, 101 McDonald Drive, some employees were unable to do their jobs, said Bill Glover, human resources manager.

“Luckily it’s not a completely long period of time, or we might be in another situation,” Glover said.

“It was more of an inconvenience today.”

Office workers at N.R. Hamm Quarry Inc. in Perry had trouble calling company foremen but suffered no serious problems, said Moni Gray, assistant office manager.

“We probably saved some money,” Gray said with a laugh. “We just went on hold and worked around it.”

Fleckenstein emphasized the need for contractors to heed utility warning signs. Orange signs designate phone lines. They should call before they start digging, he said.