Columbia Heights - McLeod, Royce and Leander Streets - Project Updates

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are finishing the 2021 portion of the project’s work. This week, a crew from Michels Corporation finished replacing the project’s natural gas lines. This includes connecting the service lines to the new mains.

A crew from Q3 Contracting will put down winter erosion control on the areas affected by construction. The hard surfaces will have permanent restoration. On any excavations in boulevards and lawns, the crew will backfill with dirt and place netting over these areas. In spring 2022, they will return with black dirt and seed.

Work will be suspended from Thursday, November 25 to Sunday, November 28 for the holiday weekend. We appreciate your patience as we upgrade our natural gas lines.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are making progress. Michels Corporation finished replacing the project’s natural gas mains. Q3 Contracting restored 44th Avenue NE and opened it back for traffic.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, began replacing the project’s natural gas mains on Thursday, October 21. They started on McLeod Street NE from Reservoir Boulevard, working north toward 44th Avenue NE. On Saturday, October 23, they will begin replacing the main at Royce Street and Leander Lane.

On Tuesday, October 26, and Wednesday, October 27, they plan to close and pave 44th Avenue NE just west of McLeod Street NE. Late within the week of October 25, they plan to finish replacing the project’s natural gas mains.

Beginning in mid-October and lasting into late fall 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Columbia Heights along the following streets: McLeod Street NE between 44th Avenue NE and Reservoir Boulevard; Royce Street NE between 44th Avenue NE and McLeod Street NE; and Leander Lane between 44th Avenue NE and McLeod Street NE.

While Michels Corporation will replace the 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. Parking closures will occur where the crews are working. For a limited time, closures will occur on 44th Avenue NE just west of McLeod Street NE and on McLeod Street NE at 42nd ½ Avenue NE. Detour signs will redirect drivers.

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.

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.