Excelsior - Water Street, Hidden Lane, and 3rd Avenue - Project Updates

Crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, finished replacing the project’s natural gas mains. This week, the crews began connecting the natural gas service lines to the new mains. They are starting on 3rd Street and will finish either this week or the week of July 12. After that, they will begin the service line work on Water Street.

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.

Crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, anticipate finishing the project’s natural gas main replacements on Friday, June 25. Currently the crews are replacing the main on Water Street. Parking is restricted on both sides of Water Street. They are also connecting the natural gas service lines to the new mains.

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 Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, replaced the natural gas main on 3rd Avenue. Today and tomorrow on June 17 and 18, they will have replaced the main on Hidden Lane. On Monday, June 21, they will begin replacing the main on Water Street. Although no full road closures are expected, parking and lane closures will occur, and two-way traffic will be maintained. The crews will close parking on both sides of Water Street.

Beginning in mid-June and lasting into mid- to late summer of 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Excelsior along the following roads: 3rd Avenue from Mill Street to Division Street; Hidden Lane; and Water Street from Oak Street to 3rd Street.

While Michels Corporation will replace the natural gas main, connect the natural gas service lines to the new main, and move any inside residential meters outside, Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work outside the limits of the City of Excelsior’s 2021 Street and Utility Improvement Project and Water Street Improvement Project. Although no full road closures are expected, parking and lane closures will occur, and two-way traffic will be maintained. The crews will close parking on both sides of Water Street and 3rd Street.