Gov. Linda Lingle has signed legislation that permanently continues a one-stop call center that construction crews and others can use to determine the location of underground gas pipes, telephone conduits, cables, and water and sewer lines.

The intent of the bill is to prevent disruptions of service to customers, reduce the costs of inadvertent damage to underground facilities, and improve the safety of excavators.

A pilot program known as the Hawaii One Call Center, begun in 2006, was to have ended this year unless the Legislature acted to extend it.

The state Public Utilities Commission operates the program.

The measure was backed by The Gas Co., Hawaiian Telecom and the Building Industry Association-Hawaii.