Bloomington - Penn Avenue Belt Line - Project Updates

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are continuing progress. Crews from Minnesota Limited are continuing to shift a lane of traffic on Penn Avenue S. between 89th Street W. and Dixon Drive. There is one lane of traffic traveling north and south during nonworking hours. During working hours, traffic is reduced to one lane that is being flagged.

In late August, the crews will cross American Boulevard with lane closures. Detour signs will direct drivers depending on the direction. More details will be added closer to that time.

Crews from Q3 Contracting have paved and opened the intersection of 79th Street W. and Penn Avenue S., in addition to 86th Street W. at Penn Avenue S. On Thursday, August 5, the crews will pave Penn Avenue S. from 79th Street W. to American Boulevard. On Friday, August 6, the crews will mill south, working from American Boulevard to 81st Street W. CenturyLink’s contractor will work on Penn Avenue S. north of 78th Street W.

Beginning on Monday, August 9 and lasting for approximately two weeks, a closure will happen on 88th Street W. between Penn and Queen Avenues S. This will accommodate the crews’ natural gas work of installing regulator loops and connecting the natural gas piping to them. It will also accommodate the restoration and reopening of the road.

For the crossing of 79th Street W. and Penn Avenue S. this weekend, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors anticipate beginning work at 7:00 a.m. and finishing before 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 31 and on Sunday, August 1. The purpose is to expedite the work to open traffic by Monday, August 2 or Tuesday, August 3.

Hennepin County will be performing its Mill and Overlay on Penn Avenue S. between American Boulevard and 75th Street W., following Minnesota Limited and Q3 Contracting’s work.

Within August, Minnesota Limited will cross American Boulevard at Penn Avenue S. The crews will close a few lanes at a time with detour signs leading traffic to the next block over. More details will be provided closer to that portion of the project.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are continuing progress. Crews from Minnesota Limited are continuing to shift a lane of traffic on Penn Avenue S. between 89th Street W. and Dixon Drive. There is one lane of traffic traveling north and south during nonworking hours. During working hours, traffic is reduced to one lane that is being flagged. One crew is replacing the Phase 3 natural gas main north of 84th Street W. and will continue to work north.

This week, the east side of 86th Street W. remains closed as a crew continues to work on the valve vault piping and regulator loops. When the natural gas work is finished, the crews from Q3 Contracting plan to pave the area and reopen it by Tuesday, August 3. Later in August, Minnesota Limited will return to this area to test the pressure of the pipe and connect it to the existing intersecting pipes. This will not require a full closure.

In the afternoon of Friday, July 30, the crews will close 79th Street W. at Penn Avenue S. This area will reopen on or before Tuesday, August 3. This closure will allow the crews to replace the Phase 3 natural gas main and restore the area back to traffic. During this time, the western half of the intersection will be closed. While northbound and southbound traffic will remain open, drivers can’t turn onto westbound 79th Street W. from Penn Avenue S. Detour signs will lead drivers to American Boulevard.

Later in August, the crews will cross American Boulevard at Penn Avenue S. More details will be added closer to that time.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are progressing on the job. Crews from Minnesota Limited are continuing to shift a lane of traffic on Penn Avenue S. between 89th Street W. and Dixon Drive. There is one lane of traffic traveling north and south during nonworking hours. During working hours, traffic is reduced to one lane that is being flagged.

One crew is replacing the natural gas main south of 84th Street W. and will continue working north. Another crew is continuing to work on the valve vault piping and regulator loops at 86th Street W. The east side of 86th Street W. remains closed during the weeks of July 19 and 26. The natural gas work there is expected to finish in the week of July 26 with restoration following that same week, if not the following. Q3 Contracting is continuing to pave Penn Avenue. They are just south of 86th Street W.

On Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1, the crews will replace the main on Penn Avenue S. at 79th Street W. During this time, the western half of the intersection will be closed. While northbound and southbound traffic will remain open, drivers can’t turn onto westbound 79th Street W. from Penn Avenue S. Detour signs will lead drivers to American Boulevard. This area will be paved on Monday, August 2 and open to traffic on Tuesday, August 3.

Hennepin County will be performing its Mill and Overlay on Penn Avenue S. between American Boulevard and 75th Street W., following Minnesota Limited and Q3’s work.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are continuing progress on Phases 2 through 4.

Phase 2: Crews from Michels Corporation anticipate finishing Phase 2 by Saturday, July 17.

Phase 3: Crews from Minnesota are continuing to shift a lane of traffic on Penn Avenue S. between 89th Street W. and Dixon Drive. There is one lane of traffic traveling north and south during nonworking hours. During working hours, traffic is reduced to one lane that is being flagged. The east side of 86th Street W. remains closed during the week of July 12. One crew is installing the new Phase 3 natural gas main and removing the existing main, working north from 86th Street W. Another crew is continuing to work on the valve vault piping and regulator loops.

Phase 4: Crews from Q3 Contracting will continue to pave up to 86th Street W. late in the week of July 12.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are continuing progress.

Phase 1: Michels Corporation replaced all the project’s Phase 1 natural gas main.

Phase 2: Michels Corporation anticipates replacing the final of the service lines by approximately Friday, July 16. Currently they are working south from 94th Street W. When they are finished, they will return to intersections between 90th and 98th Streets W. to put the existing intersecting mains out of service. Phase 2 is expected to finish within late July.

Phase 3: Minnesota Limited is continuing to replace the Phase 3 natural gas main and remove the existing main. The closure on 86th Street W. will continue into the week of July 12, including restoration. On Penn Avenue S. between 89th Street W. and Dixon Drive, there is one lane of traffic traveling north and south during nonworking hours. During working hours, traffic is reduced to one lane that is being flagged. One crew is replacing the Phase 3 natural gas main between 86th and 88th Streets W., working north. Another crew placed the valve vault at 86th Street W. and removed the existing pipe up to 86th Street W. They will begin installing regulator loops and vault piping.

Phase 4: Q3 Contracting put asphalt base on Penn Avenue S. from Penn Lake Circle to the north. The crews will also follow the Phase 2 crew’s route to restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work outside the roadway, where Phase 3 will continue.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are continuing to work on Phases 2 and 3. Michels Corporation is working south of 89th Street W. A lane shift is in place on Penn Avenue S. between 89th Street W. and Dixon Drive. There is one lane of traffic traveling north and south during nonworking hours. During working hours, traffic is reduced to one lane that is being flagged.

One crew from Minnesota Limited is replacing the Phase 3 main between 86th and 88th Streets W., working north. Another Minnesota Limited crew is removing the existing large-diameter steel main just south of 86th Street W. The crews have closed 86th Street W. on the east side of Penn Avenue S. for approximately three weeks, including restoration. The signal light has been placed in flash. This work includes installing the valve vault, regulator loops and the pipe.

The contractor for Hennepin County is redoing pedestrian ramps and porkchops along Penn Avenue S. at the intersections of American Boulevard and 79th Street W. They have finished the southbound side and are working on the northbound side. In late June or early July, the contractor for the City of Bloomington will perform the mill and overlay on American Boulevard on the west side of Penn Avenue S.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are progressing.

Michels Corporation is continuing the replace the natural gas main south of 89th Street W. The closure of 96th Street W. at Penn Avenue S. will last until Wednesday, June 30. This will allow Michels Corporation to replace the Phase 1 distribution main in this area, and it will allow Q3 Contracting to restore the area affected by Michels Corporation’s work. Phase 1 is expected to finish by approximately Friday, July 2. This will include the crews connecting the new main to the existing intersecting mains along the project’s route.

A crew from Michels Corporation is connecting the natural gas service lines to the Phase 1 main between 91st and 93rd Streets W., following the Phase 1 crew’s route.

In the week of June 14, the crews began removing the existing 12-inch and 24-inch natural gas mains and installing the new 12-inch and 24-inch mains from Penn Lake Circle heading north on the project. On Friday, June 18, a lane closure was lifted on 98th Street W. east of Penn Avenue S.

There is a lane shift on Penn Avenue S. between 89th Street W. and Dixon Drive. During nonworking hours, there is one lane for northbound traffic and another lane for southbound traffic. During working hours, Penn Avenue S. is reduced to one lane with flaggers directing traffic. There is a lane shift on Penn Avenue S. between 97th and 98th Streets W.

On Monday, June 28, the crews will close 86th Street W. on the east side of Penn Avenue S. This work will include installing the valve vault, regulator loops, and the natural gas piping. The approximate duration of the closure is three weeks, including Phase 4 restoration.

On Monday, June 21, Q3 Contracting put temporary asphalt on Penn Avenue S. between 97th and 98th Streets W. This week, the crews are restoring Queen Avenue S. between 88th and 90th Streets W. By June 30, Q3 Contracting will have restored and reopened 98th Street W. east of Penn Avenue S. (See the above detail.)

Hennepin County’s contractor are reconstructing pedestrian ramps along Penn Avenue S. at American Boulevard and 79th Street W. They will work on the southbound sides and then move to the northbound sides. The City of Bloomington will follow the natural gas work on 86th Street W. to reconstruct the street. In the end of June, the city will begin performing a mill and overlay of American Boulevard on the west side of Penn Avenue S. They will reconstruct a piece of the median.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are progressing. Beginning on Monday, June 21, crews from Michels Corporation will begin closing 96th Street W. at Penn Avenue for approximately one week. They anticipate finishing Phase 1 natural gas main replacement within early July. Crews from Q3 Contracting will mill Penn Avenue from Dixon Drive to 89th Street W.

The City of Bloomington will perform a mill and overlay on American Boulevard. In mid-July, Minnesota Limited will return to this area for natural gas work for Phase 3.

Crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, are continuing to replace the Phase 1 natural gas main on the east side of Penn Avenue between 86th and 90th Streets W. In the weeks of June 7 and 14, they will begin to replace the main heading south between 90th and 96th Streets W.

From June 21 to 25, the crews will close 96th Street W. just east of Penn Avenue. Access to driveways and parking lots will remain open. Crews from Michels Corporation are also connecting the natural gas service lines to the new main for Phase 2. They are currently working north of 90th Street W.

In the week of June 14, Phase 3 of 4 will begin with work from CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, Minnesota Limited. The crews will close the turn lanes for drivers heading south on Penn Avenue and west on 76th Street W. Detour signs will direct drivers south on Penn Avenue and west on American Boulevard. The duration in this area will take approximately a few weeks. The inspectors will coordinate with the businesses in this area. The crews will begin to stage equipment and materials on the easement on the north side of Target’s parking lot. This will include fencing or traffic barrels.

The crews will have lane shifts on Penn Avenue between 97th and 98th Streets W.

From the afternoon of Wednesday, June 16 to the evening of Thursday, June 17, the crews will close Thomas Avenue just south of 76th Street W. to through traffic. Driveways will remain open. The closure will allow the crews to access the natural gas vault. Detour signs will lead through traffic to Upton Avenue, 76th Street W. and 77th Street W.

To complete the work, the crews for any of the phases may work on Saturdays.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are continuing work. Crews from Michels Corporation are continuing Phases 1 and 2, which include the natural gas main replacement and the connection of the natural gas service lines to the new Phase 1 main. The Phase 2 crews are following the Phase 1 crew’s route. Phase 3 will begin in the week of June 14 with Minnesota Limited. (More details will be added to the website closer to the phase’s beginning.) Crews from Q3 Contracting are performing work for Phase 4 gradually such as north of American Boulevard outside areas that will be affected by the Phase 3 work.

The Michels Corporation crews are replacing the Phase 1 natural gas main at 90th Street W. and are moving to 92nd Street W. By the end of the week of June 7, they will have moved to 94th Street W. In the week of June 7 or 14, they will have moved to 96th Street W. The crews are continuing to work in the northbound lanes of Penn Avenue S. between 90th and 94th Streets W. Drivers heading west on 90th Street W. can’t turn north onto Penn Avenue S. Detour signs will lead them to 90th Street W., Lyndale Avenue, 86th Street W. and Penn Avenue S.

Another crew replaced the natural gas main at 86th Street W., connected it to the existing intersecting mains, and put the existing mains out of service in that area.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are continuing progress.

Crews from Michels Corporation connected the natural gas service lines (Phase 2) to the Phase 1 natural gas main north of American Boulevard. Crews from Q3 Contracting will begin restoring the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work north of 82nd Street W.

During the weeks of May 17 and 24, Michels Corporation’s crews are replacing the Phase 1 main between 86th and 90th Streets W. and connecting the service lines from 84th Street W. to Dixon Drive. From 84th Street W. to Dixon Drive and at 86th Street W., the crews are working in the northbound lanes and maintaining two-way traffic on Penn Avenue. Toward 90th Street W., the crews will work in the southbound lanes, maintaining two-way traffic on Penn Avenue. For a limited time, the crews will close 83rd Street W. at Penn Avenue.

In the first week of June, Minnesota Limited will begin Phase 3 of the project, which is replacing the large-diameter steel main. They will work at 79th, 86th, 90th and 98th Streets W. At 86th Street W., the crews will use ZEVAC equipment. Lane closures will occur in these areas. More details will be added in future updates.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are progressing on the project. Michels Corporation finished the natural gas work at 82nd Street W. Late this week, Q3 Contracting will permanently restore the area and remove the barricades. North of 82nd Street W., Michels Corporation will connect the natural gas service lines to the new main tentatively in the week of May 17, and Q3 Contracting will follow to restore the area.

Currently the crew is replacing the natural gas main on Penn Avenue S. at 84th Street W. with lane shifts. By the end of this week, the crew will have replaced the main toward 86th Street W. By the end of the week of May 17, the crews anticipate replacing the main toward 90th Street W.

Michels Corporation finished the natural gas work at 88th Street W. and Penn Avenue S. and is finishing the gas work at 90th Street W. and Queen Avenue S. Q3 Contracting will restore and open these areas to traffic.

Currently the crews closed the median lanes on Penn Avenue S. between 82nd Street W. and Dixon Drive. Two-way traffic is open on Penn Avenue S. in this area. The east sidewalk on Penn Avenue S. is closed while the west sidewalk is open.

Today on May 6, the crews will have connected the new natural gas main to the existing intersecting main at 82nd Street W. By the end of the day on May 6 or 7, the crews plan to have blacktopped American Boulevard and will have removed the barricades. On May 7, the crews will begin replacing the main south of Dixon Drive. Approximately by the end of May, the crews plan to have replaced the Phase 1 main to 86th Street W. By approximately May 11, the crews plan to finish the Phase 1 work at 79th Street W.

Beginning today on May 6, the crews are replacing the Phase 1 main in a few lanes in the intersection of 88th Street W. and Penn Avenue S. Two-way traffic will be maintained. They plan to finish the Phase 1 main work by the end of the week of May 10.

The crews are currently replacing the Phase 1 main in the intersection of 90th Street W. and Queen Avenue S. This intersection will continue to be closed until the middle or end of the week of May 10.

For approximately one or two weeks beginning on Thursday, April 29, the crews will close a lane on 81st Street W. from Penn to Queen Avenues. The closure will allow the crews to perform Phases 1 and 2 in this area, which includes replacing a natural gas main and connecting the natural gas service lines to the Phase 1 main. The west sidewalk on Penn Avenue within the lane closure is closed, while the east sidewalk is open. Driveway and parking lot access will remain open. Steel plates will be used as needed for access.

The following closures are expected to last within the week of May 3: The crews will have replaced the Phase 1 natural gas main on Penn Avenue from 79th Street W. to Dixon Drive. The crews have closed 88th Street W. from Penn Avenue to west of Queen Avenue to replace the natural gas main. The crews will close two southbound lanes on Penn Avenue at 88th Street W., shifting traffic.

The crews will continue to replace the main on American Boulevard at Penn Avenue with the existing lane closures in place. A portion of American Boulevard heading westbound onto Penn Avenue is closed. Detour signs are leading drivers to eastbound I-494 and southbound France Avenue, and to southbound Penn Avenue, eastbound 82nd Street W. and northbound Knox Avenue.

The crews are continuing to replace the Phase 1 natural gas main in the east lane of Penn Avenue, shifting traffic. The east sidewalk will remain closed, while the west sidewalk will remain open.

The current lane closure is between 81st and 84th Streets W. In the week of April 26, the crews will extend the closure to 79th Street W. After that, the crews will head south on Penn Avenue.

In approximately two weeks, the crews estimate that Penn Avenue between 82nd Street W. and Private Drive should be restored and opened.

On April 16, Michels Corporation will replace the first of the project’s two natural gas mains. This main is a distribution main that will feed the natural gas service lines to homes and businesses. The crews will start at American Boulevard, working south with a lane closure on Penn Ave. between 82nd St. W. and Private Drive.

Thank you to all who joined us on our February 23 event! CenterPoint Energy, the City of Bloomington and Hennepin County hosted a virtual Microsoft Teams meeting with a short presentation and a Q&A session that answered questions about the project. Among the topics discussed were the traffic impacts, project’s location, and our restoration efforts.

More details will be added closer to the project’s start date. Our website will be updated weekly. As we coordinate with the City of Bloomington and Hennepin County, we hope to make the construction run as smoothly as possible.

For Phase 1, lane closures may occur. Once final traffic plans are available, the access routes will be updated on our construction website. For Phase 3, the crews will work on Penn Ave. a few blocks at a time. Restoration of the road will follow closely behind the pipe installation crew. Detours will direct drivers. Residential traffic will be maintained.

The crews will be on site, assisting residents with access during construction. They will notify customers once they are going to be working in front of their home. Parking and lane or road restrictions are anticipated in areas where active construction is occurring and are necessary to keep both the public and construction personnel safe.

From April to November 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Bloomington along Penn Avenue S. from 98th Street W. to Interstate 494. This project will happen in four phases:

Michels Corporation will replace the first of the project’s two natural gas mains. This main will feed the natural gas service lines to homes and businesses.

Michels Corporation will connect the service lines to the new Phase 1 gas main.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor will replace the second gas main.

Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by work on the natural gas lines.