Edina - Blake Road 2021 Belt Line - Project Updates

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are finishing the project. Minnesota Limited finished the natural gas work in the week of June 14. Q3 Contracting has been restoring after Minnesota Limited’s work. Restoration is continuing into the week of June 21. The traffic control barriers are expected to be removed by approximately Friday, June 25. Northwest Asphalt, hired by the City of Edina, has been performing work and will finish approximately June 25. We want to thank you for your patience as we are finishing our project.

In the week of June 14, the crews are finishing the project’s natural gas work. This includes putting the existing natural gas mains out of service. In the weeks of June 14 and 21, restoration will happen with curbs, sidewalk, boulevards, lawns, and asphalt. The traffic barriers associated with CenterPoint Energy’s work will be removed in late June. We appreciate your patience as we finish construction.

For the week of May 31, the following traffic plan is in place: Blake Road S. is closed to through traffic from Lake Ridge Road to Knoll Drive S. During working hours residential traffic is controlled using flaggers. During nonworking hours residential traffic within the closure becomes a one-way south.

One crew is currently working just south of Fox Meadow Lane on Blake Road S. installing the regulator loops. Another crew is completing the installation of the Phase 3 natural gas main before testing its pressure. This week, the crews deployed the ZEVAC unit.

In the week of June 7, the crews from Minnesota Limited will have finished Phase 3 of 4. This phase includes replacing the final portion of the project’s natural gas, connecting it to the existing intersecting main, and testing the pressure of the new main. Q3 Contracting will continue with hard surface restoration in the week of June 7 throughout the project area.

During the week of June 14, Minnesota Limited will need to work near the intersection of Parkwood Road and Schaefer Road. This work will include abandoning the old vaults and some of the pipe. The traffic control for this work will be minimal. Q3 Contracting will follow to restore the areas affected by Minnesota Limited’s work.

Crews from Minnesota Limited are continuing to replace the project’s Phase 3 natural gas main. One crew is at Fox Meadow Lane, and another crew is at Knoll Drive. Crews from Q3 Contracting are following Minnesota Limited’s route and will continue to restore within the weeks of May 24 and 31. No work will happen on Memorial Day. Excavations will continue to have construction barriers. For one day within the week of June 7, the crews will utilize a ZEVAC machine.

This week, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are continuing to work. Blake Road S. is closed to through traffic from Lake Ridge Road to Knoll Drive S. During working hours residential traffic is controlled using flaggers. During nonworking hours residential traffic within the closure becomes a one-way south.

Fox Meadow Lane on the east side of Blake Road is closed. A temporary access has been made for the residents of the cul-de-sac using a mat road though the park. Due to unknown utility depths, this road has remained closed longer than anticipated. Pending weather, the crews plan to reopen Fox Meadow Lane today on May 20 or tomorrow on May 21. This crew will continue with the regulator loop work south of Fox Meadow Lane.

The main pipe crew from Minnesota Limited is currently up to Knoll Drive and will continue to work to the south. Asphalt is tentatively scheduled for Friday, May 28 from Parkwood Road to Knoll Drive S. New curb and radiuses at Fox Meadow Lane will be poured within the middle to end of the week of May 24.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are progressing on the project. Below are details for the week of May 10:

Blake Road S. is closed to through traffic from Lake Ridge Road to Knoll Drive S. During working hours residential traffic is controlled using flaggers. During nonworking hours residential traffic within the closure becomes a one-way south.

Fox Meadow Lane on the east side of Blake Road S. is closed. A temporary access has been made for the residents of the cul-de-sac using a mat road though the park. The valve vault has been set. Crews from Minnesota Limited are currently working on connecting the north side of the vault to reopen the road. This crew will then begin working on the regulator loops south of the vault.

Minnesota Limited crews are currently just south of Parkwood Road and will continue to work to the south. Q3 Contracting completed milling from Parkwood Road to Knoll Drive S. on May 12. Asphalt is scheduled for tomorrow on Friday, May 14. They will pave the base layer from Lake Ridge Road to Parkwood Road, skipping a section at the vault.

For the week of May 3, the following traffic plan is set in place: Blake Road closed to through traffic from Lake Ridge Road to Knoll Drive S. During working hours residential traffic is controlled using flaggers. During non-working hours, residential traffic within the closure becomes a one-way south. The pipe crew is currently at Evanswood Lane and will continue to work to the south.

Beginning Monday, May 10, Fox Meadow Lane on the east side of Blake Road will be closed for one week. A temporary access will be made for the residents of the cul-de-sac using a mat road though the park. During this time Minnesota Limited will excavate and set the valve vault.

A mill is scheduled for Wednesday, May 12 to continue from Parkwood Road to Knoll Drive S. Asphalt is currently scheduled for next Friday, May 14. The crew will pave the base layer from Lake Ridge Road to Parkwood Road.

The crews estimate that in late June, the Blake Road Belt Line Project will be complete. Below are some details in the meantime:

Crews from Minnesota Limited, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, began replacing the Phase 3 natural gas main, working from north to south. From Lake Ridge Road to Parkwood Road, the east half of Blake Road was milled and removed.

This week, Blake Road was closed to through traffic from Lake Ridge Road to Knoll Drive S. During working hours residential traffic was controlled using flaggers. During nonworking hours residential traffic within the closure was open one way heading south.

In the week of May 10, Fox Meadow Lane at the east side of Blake Road will be closed for one week. During this time the crews will excavate and set the valve vault. Access for the cul-de-sac residence will be through a temporary constructed road through Fox Meadow Park. Traffic signage will be in place to direct vehicle traffic for entrance and exit.

Residents can bring garbage to the end of their driveways as they normally would. The crews will make sure they are collected by their garbage service. The crews will mark the address with a piece of tape for each garbage can.

Blake Road will be open one way heading southbound after construction activity each day and on weekends. During construction activity, flaggers can direct traffic in any direction to give access to deliveries, local residence or any service vehicles. This May traffic personnel will direct vehicles to use the posted detour signs to access their destination.

On April 26, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, Minnesota Limited, will begin the project’s Phase 3, which is the replacement of the large-diameter steel main. Phase 3 is expected to last into the third week of June with Phase 4’s restoration to follow. Due to cold weather, the start date has been pushed back a week from April 19. The other details from the April 8, 2021 update remain the same.

The crews expect to complete Phase 1 by the end of the week of April 12. Currently they are replacing the Phase 1 natural gas main from Parkwood Road to Knoll Drive S.

The currently closure in this area will remain for the crews to begin Phase 2, which will begin shortly after Phase 1 is complete. Customers will be notified prior to the Phase 2 work. To connect a house’s natural gas service line to the Phase 1 main, the crews will temporarily shut off the service line’s gas for approximately two to three hours. The crews will relight the resident’s pilot lights.

Any areas disturbed will be restored to their original condition in Phase 4. Crews from Q3 Contracting will put black dirt and grass seed in the affected boulevards or lawns.

On April 19, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, Minnesota Limited, will begin the project’s Phase 3. Phase 3 is expected to last into the second week of June with Phase 4’s restoration to follow.

The crews will begin milling the pavement on the east side of Blake Road S. between just south of Lake Ridge Road to just north of Parkwood Road. This area will continue to be open to residential only. Detour signs will lead through traffic to Interlachen Boulevard and Vernon Avenue S.

The natural gas main replacement will take place in the roadway. The crews will communicate with residents about driveway access when necessary. The website will continue to be updated.

By Friday, April 2, crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will have replaced a portion of the project’s Phase 1 natural gas main on Blake Road S. between Lake Ridge Road and Idylwood Drive. By the end of the day on April 2, the crews will have activated the new main with natural gas. Currently the crews are connecting the new main to the existing intersecting mains along this route.

Starting Monday, April 5, crews from Michels Corporation will begin Phase 2 between Lake Ridge Road and Idylwood Lane.

Within the week of April 5, Phase 1 will continue with the crews replacing a main on the east side of Blake Road S., starting just north of Pine Grove Road and working south to just north of Knoll Drive. The existing closure on Blake Road S. will remain during this time.

This Monday, March 22, the crews will begin construction for the Edina Blake Road 2021 Belt Line Project. After coordinating with the City of Edina and reviewing the project’s layout, the crews have made adjustments to the following plans:

For approximately one month, the crews will close a few blocks of Blake Road S. to through traffic at a time, starting from Lake Ridge Road and working south to Idylwood Drive. First, they will work from Lake Ridge Road to Blake Circle. Then they will work from Evanswood Lane to Idylwood Drive.

This will accommodate the replacement of the first natural gas main, allowing for the crews’ safety without the disruption of through traffic. The new natural gas main for Phase 1 will be located on the west side of the Blake Road S. to accommodate the existing utilities located in the east side of Blake Road S. The crews will connect the new main to the existing intersecting ones along the route.

During this time, residential access will be maintained. Detour signs will direct through traffic to Interlachen Boulevard and Vernon Avenue S.

When this portion of the project is done with the natural gas main installation, the crews will work in one lane of Blake Road S. and open the other lane while the crews will directionally drill the new main. Further details will be provided on this page when traffic plans are finalized for this portion.

This web page will be updated weekly during construction. More details will be added closer to the project’s start date.

For Phase 1, crews will alternate traffic impacts. For approximately one month beginning March 22, the crews will close Blake Road S. to through traffic, working south from Lake Ridge Road to Idylwood Drive. After that, the crews will work in one lane of Blake Road S. and open the other lane while the crews will directionally drill the new main. Further details will be provided on this page when traffic plans are finalized for this portion.

For Phase 2, crews may have to dig in the ground on your property in the utility easement and next to your home to complete the task of service line replacement. If your meter is in the inside of your home, the crews will schedule an appointment with you to move it outside.

For Phase 3, the crews will close Blake Road S. a few blocks at a time in order to make room for the open trench installation. This will take place in the road and not the boulevards or lawns. Restoration of the road will follow closely behind the pipe installation crew. Detours will direct through traffic to Interlachen Boulevard and Vernon Avenue S. Residential traffic will be maintained with some minor detours around the work area.

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.

From March 22 to June 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Edina along Blake Road S. and along Idylwood Lane. 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. This phase will happen on the east side of Blake Road S. from South Knoll Drive to just north of Scriver Road and on Idylwood Lane from Schafer Road to Blake Road S.

Michels Corporation will connect the service lines to the new Phase 1 gas main. This phase will happen on Blake Road S. from South Knoll Drive to just north of Scriver Road.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor will replace the second gas main. This phase will happen on the east side of Blake Road S. from from Lake Ridge Road to Parkwood Road on the west side of Blake Road S. from Parkwood Drive to South Knoll Drive.

Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by work on the natural gas lines outside the limits of the City of Edina’s Mill and Overlay project.