Bloomington - Penn Avenue Belt Line Project


Scheduled Start Date: April 16, 2021

CNP Map of Bloomington Penn Ave Belt Line 2021.png


Project Resources: 

CenterPoint Energy, the City of Bloomington and Hennepin County hosted a virtual meeting


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. Below is a copy of our PowerPoint slide:


What will CenterPoint Energy be doing?


From April 16 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:
 
  • Phase 1: 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. 
  • Phase 2: Michels Corporation will connect the service lines to the new Phase 1 gas main. 
  • Phase 3: CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor will replace the second gas main. 
  • Phase 4: Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by work on the natural gas lines.

What are the traffic impacts? 

  • For Phases 1 and 2, lane, parking and road closures closures may occur. 
  • 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. 


Traffic update as of August 26, 2021

88th Street W.
The anticipated restoration schedule is the following: The crews plan to restore the curbs and sidewalk on August 30 and 31 and pave the road on September 2. They plan to open the intersection before the Labor Day weekend, pending weather. At a later date, the crews will mill and overlay 88th Street W. from Penn to Queen Avenues S. and from the centerline to the east curb on Queen Avenue from 88th to 90th Streets W. For the closure on 88th Street W. between Queen and Penn Avenues S., drivers can travel north or south on Penn Avenue S. They can turn west on 90th Street W. and north on Queen Avenue S.

88th St Detour.jpg

90th Street W.
For the closure of the westbound lane on 90th Street W. just east of Penn Avenue S., drivers traveling west on 90th Street W. can turn south on Lyndale Avenue S., west on 94th Street W., north on Penn Avenue S. and west on 90th Street W. This closure is anticipated to be open by Friday, September 3, pending weather. 

90th St Detour.jpg

What is CenterPoint Energy’s COVID-19 protocol?

The construction crews and personnel will continue to use the Covid-19 Customer Permission Flyer, which requests customer permission prior to entering homes. Personnel, contractors and CenterPoint Energy employees will continue to practice CDC guidelines regarding social distancing, sanitary practices and wearing face masks when entering customer homes.

What if I have an inside gas meter?

The customer will receive a CenterPoint Energy postcard in the mail typically within one or two weeks prior to the day when the Michels Corporation crews will perform the work. The crews will have CenterPoint Energy-authorized photo IDs stating that they are employees of Michels Corporation.

After the customer receives the postcard, the foreman will arrive at the customer’s house to schedule an appointment that typically meets with the customer’s schedule. If the customer isn’t home when he arrives, he will leave a door tag with his contact information to schedule an appointment with him.

Customers are advised to set aside a two- to four-hour time frame for the inside-to-outside gas meter move. They are also advised to mark their privately-installed utilities such as dog fences or sprinklers. Marking can be accomplished with tools such as spray paint or utility flags. The foreman will access the natural gas meter inside the house, move the meter outside, and relight the natural gas appliance pilot lights after the new meter has been relocated.

Customers with outside meters will be notified prior to the replacement or connection of the service lines to the new mains. Areas affected by our work will be restored to their original condition.