Golden Valley - From 23rd Avenue N. to Duluth Street - Project Updates

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are finishing the project. By the end of this week, a crew from Michels Corporation will have finished the project’s natural gas work. They have been removing the existing natural gas mains that have been put out of service. This week, they are working on Xylon Avenue and Duluth Street. Q3 Contracting is restoring the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work outside the limits of the City of Golden Valley’s Pavement Management Program.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, finished replacing the project’s natural gas mains. In excavated areas, the crew put down temporary restoration such as erosion blankets and temporary asphalt. This is to ensure safety before the second Michels Corporation crew arrives to connect the service lines to the new mains. When the service line and meter work is done, Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will permanently restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work.

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.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, plans to finish replacing the project’s natural gas main today on Tuesday, April 12. Another Michels Corporation crew have begun connecting the service lines to the new mains, working on these streets in the following order: Xylon Avenue N., Winnetka Heights Drive, and Westbend Road; then Aquila and Zealand Avenues N.; and lastly Duluth Street. They plan to work on 6 to 8 homes a day, depending on the crews’ progress.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, have been replacing the natural gas mains since the week of March 28. They replaced the mains on the following streets: Xylon Avenue N., Winnetka Heights Drive, Westbend Road, and Aquila Avenue N. They are currently replacing the main on Zealand Avenue N. and Duluth Street. They anticipate finishing the main work by Friday, April 15.

Another Michels Corporation crew will connect the service lines to these new mains and move any inside residential meters outside. More information will be provided closer to that portion of the project’s work.

From Monday, March 28 into summer 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Golden Valley along the following streets: 23rd Avenue N. and Duluth Street from Aquila to Wisconsin Avenues N.; Aquila and Zealand Avenues N. from 23rd Avenue N. to Duluth Street; Winnetka Heights Drive from Zealand to Xylon Avenues N.; Wisconsin Avenue N. from Westbend Road to Duluth Street; and Westbend Road from Zealand to Wisconsin Avenues N.

While Michels Corporation will replace the natural gas mains, connect the natural gas service lines to the new mains, move any inside meters outside, and remove the existing natural gas mains, Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work outside the limits of the City of Golden Valley’s Pavement Management Program. During this time, lane shifts will occur. Parking may be restricted on the side of the street where the crews are working.

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.