Bloomington and Burnsville - Nicollet Line - Project Updates

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors, Minnesota Limited and Q3 Contracting, anticipate finishing the 2022 portion of the project’s work by the end of December. This includes replacing all the project’s natural gas lines and putting down winter erosion control on the areas affected by construction. Until then, the crews will continue to work in Burnsville south of the Minnesota River. In 2023, permanent restoration will follow. We thank you for your patience and wish you a great holiday season.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors opened the Bluff Trail. Minnesota Limited bored a large-diameter natural gas main underneath the Minnesota River and replaced the main heading north into Bloomington. Construction is nearly complete in Bloomington, with one final tie-in to be made later this year near 107th Street Circle E. On the Burnsville side, the crew is preparing to bore a large-diameter main under Black Dog Lake. For the rest of the project, the crews don’t anticipate impacting any vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

Q3 Contracting has been following behind to restore the areas affected by Minnesota Limited’s work. Although the crews plan to permanently restore the boulevards and lawns, the crews will apply winter erosion control if temperatures aren’t conducive for planting grass. Any holes created by CenterPoint Energy’s crews in boulevards during construction will be backfilled with dirt and protected with matting. In spring, the crews will return to place new black dirt and grass seed in these areas.

The Bluff Trail remains closed into early or mid-October 2022. The crew will place signs along the trail, indicating the trail’s closure to pedestrians and bicyclists who may enter throughout the trail’s route. We appreciate your patience as we’re upgrading our natural gas lines.

From spring into fall 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors have been and will continue to work on CenterPoint Energy’s Nicollet Line project. While Minnesota Limited has been replacing large-diameter natural gas steel main, Q3 Contracting has been following to restore the areas affected by Minnesota Limited’s work.

From Monday, August 29 into the middle of fall 2022, the Bluff Trail will be closed to foot and bicycle traffic. As Minnesota Limited replaces the main, they will create an open trench in the utility corridor from the bluff top to the river, which crosses the trail.

The trail will be closed from Hopkins Road to Gideon Pond House. Through traffic will be detoured to the trail along the Minnesota River. Please do not attempt to travel around the closure. Traveling off this route can damage sensitive wildlife habitat within the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The trail will remain open at Parker Picnic Area at 10401 Columbus Road in Bloomington.

We appreciate your patience and apologize for the inconvenience as we’re upgrading our natural gas lines, ensuring system reliability for years to come. For more information on Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, please visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota-valley.

This summer and fall 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work from 107th Street Circle E. in Bloomington to Cliff Road E. in Burnsville. Part of the work will take place under the Minnesota River. While Minnesota Limited will replace a natural gas vault and a large-diameter natural gas steel main, Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Minnesota Limited’s work.

From mid- to late July, the crew will replace a vault on 107th Street W. at Wentworth Avenue S. During this time, they will close 107th Street W. just west of Wentworth Avenue S. No driveways will be closed during this time. Detour signs will lead through traffic to Wentworth Avenue S., Mission Road, and Nicollet Avenue.

From July to August, residents will see the crews’ equipment on 107th Street Circle E. between 101 and 111 107th Street Circle E. During this time, there will be no impact to vehicular traffic. This work is part of the main replacement from 107th Street Circle E. to Cliff Road E., which will last into fall 2022.

From spring to fall 2022, CenterPoint Energy will replace its natural gas steel main for its 2022 Nicollet Line Project. The new main runs from 107th Street Circle E. in Bloomington to Cliff Road E. in Burnsville. To prepare for this work, crews will remove trees within CenterPoint Energy’s utility easement from 107th Street Circle E. to the Minnesota River.

Vehicular traffic will not be impacted. Crews’ equipment may be parked in the 107th Street Circle E. neighborhood. Pedestrians and bicyclists will notice crews on the Bluff Trail, but there won’t be any full closures. Signs will be posted on the trail. The dates for the tree clearing will be updated on this website. We appreciate your patience as we continue to upgrade our natural gas lines.