Understanding Easements and Right of Way (ROW)

When it comes to your property, it’s important to understand easements — legal rights that allow others to use parts of your land for specific purposes, like utilities or road access. Easements are established in various ways, including:

If you’ve noticed our flags in your yard, it’s likely marking the road right of way or back edge of easement. Although the road may seem narrow, rights of way can drastically vary in width. To confirm the right of way for your road, check your subdivision plat or document with the State Recorder’s Office. Remember: the visible road, ditches, and slopes don’t always define the actual boundaries.

Before any construction or digging begins, it’s essential to mark the locations of underground utilities to prevent accidental damage. The 811 Alaska Digline coordinates these efforts, ensuring that public utility lines are properly marked before excavation. A separate, private locator is required by the Homeowner to ensure safety for private facilities like water lines or dog fences.

Once the locates are completed, the identified utilities are marked with color-coded paint on the ground. These markings will naturally wash away over time, typically within a few days. By adhering to these procedures, MTA helps maintain the integrity of essential services and ensures that construction projects proceed safely and efficiently.

MTA is committed to transparency and minimizing disruption during our infrastructure projects. Here’s how we handle construction:

• Surveying: Professional surveyors mark right-of-way lines and easements. Please keep these stakes in place until the project is complete.
• 811 Locates: We coordinate with Alaska Digline to ensure all underground public utility lines are marked before digging begins.
• Construction: Our process includes clearing vegetation, directional boring in paved areas, and installing underground facilities within the easement/right of way. Our new fiber facilities are encased in innerducts to reduce future disruptions to your property. Once connected, you’ll have access to speeds up to 1 Gig.