Brooklyn Park - County Road 152 from West Broadway to Brunswick Ave. - Project Updates

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, is connecting the natural gas service lines to the new mains along Brooklyn Boulevard. They began at Brunswick Avenue N., moving west. The crew anticipates finishing the project’s natural gas work by approximately September 9. During this time, the lane shifts will remain in place on Brooklyn Boulevard.

By the end of this week, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will finish replacing the project’s natural gas main. They are currently west of West Broadway Avenue. The turn lane onto West Broadway Avenue from Brooklyn Boulevard is closed during business hours and opened for the evening. The lane shift on Brooklyn Boulevard from Brunswick Avenue N. to west of West Broadway Avenue will stay up during the day and night.

This week, another crew from Michels Corporation will begin connecting the natural gas service lines to the new main. The lane shifts on Brooklyn Boulevard will continue to accommodate their work.

This morning on Wednesday, August 4, crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, have opened up Tessman Drive to traffic.

Today on Monday, August 2, crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will connect the new natural gas mains to the existing intersecting mains along Brooklyn Boulevard at Douglas Drive and Tessman Drive. The crews have lifted the closure on Douglas Drive and will lift the closure at Tessman Drive later this week.

They have extended the lane shift to Georgia Avenue and Hampshire Avenue. At these intersections, parking will be restricted on both sides of the roads. Driveway entrances will remain open in this area, including the entrances into Optimum Chiropractic and the townhome complex on Hampshire Avenue.

Later this week, they will begin working west of Hampshire Avenue, extending the lane shift. When that happens, parking and sidewalk closures will occur at the cross streets. This closure will last into the week of August 9.

On Wednesday, July 28 or Thursday, July 29, the crews will begin closing the entrances into Douglas Drive and Tessman Drive. This will accommodate the crews’ work as they connect the new natural gas mains to the existing intersecting mains. Local access will be maintained. Detour signs will direct through traffic to the next block over. They anticipate opening these closures by Monday, August 2 as they continue to work west.

On Monday, July 26, the crews will begin replacing the project’s natural gas mains. They will start west of Zane Avenue, working toward Tessman Avenue. They will close the right lane of westbound Brooklyn Boulevard, temporarily closing the entrances into Tessman Drive and Douglas Drive. Detour signs will direct drivers to the next block over.

From late July to late summer 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Brooklyn Park along Brooklyn Boulevard between West Broadway Avenue and Brunswick Avenue N. While Michels Corporation will replace natural gas mains, connect the natural gas service lines to the new mains, and move any inside residential meters outside, Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work outside the limits of Hennepin County’s Road Maintenance Project.

For most of the project’s duration, lane and parking closures will occur. Sidewalk closures will alternate as needed. Some turn lane and full closures will occur along the following streets: Heading southbound from West Broadway Avenue to westbound Brooklyn Boulevard; and heading northbound from Brooklyn Boulevard to West Broadway Avenue.

For a short duration, the crews will close Tessman Drive for approximately 50 feet just north of Brooklyn Boulevard, detouring traffic to Georgia Avenue. Local access will be maintained. For a short duration, the crews will close Douglas Drive for approximately 50 feet just south of Brooklyn Boulevard, detouring traffic to Hampshire Avenue. Local access will be maintained.

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.

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 they 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.

Crews from Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will follow to restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work, including hard and soft surfaces. On the soft surfaces such as boulevards and lawns, various erosion control measures keep the restored area moist, hold seed in the soil, and enhance seed germination. If an erosion blanket is needed it is secured in place with staples. The mesh is a wood fiber that will completely degrade. Prior to mowing the restored area, remove any loose staples that secured the blanket.