Mankato - Alexander Park Area - Project Updates

Early in the week of November 29, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will finish the project’s natural gas work. This includes connecting the service lines to the new mains. Work will be suspended from Thursday, November 25 to Sunday, November 28 for the holiday weekend.

A crew from Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will put down winter erosion control on the areas affected by construction. The hard surfaces will have temporary asphalt, including those that were previously concrete. In spring 2022, the crews will restore them to their original condition. On any excavations in boulevards and lawns, they will backfill with dirt and place netting over these areas. In spring 2022, they will return with black dirt and seed.

We appreciate your patience as we upgrade our natural gas lines.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, plan to finish the project’s natural gas main replacements early in the week of November 8. Another Michels Corporation crew will come to connect the service lines to the new mains. At the moment, the date of their work isn’t determined yet. More information will be provided closer to their work.

Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will follow Michels Corporation to restore the areas affected by their work. Depending on the hard surface, the crews will apply asphalt or concrete restoration to the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. If the temperature is unconducive to concrete restoration, the crews will apply asphalt to the affected surface. The crews will return in the spring to replace the asphalt with the appropriate permanent materials.

If temperatures aren’t conducive for planting grass, the crews will apply winter erosion control. Any holes created by Michels Corporation’s crews in boulevards during construction will be backfilled with dirt and protected with matting. In spring, the crews will return to place new black dirt and grass seed in these areas.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, began replacing the project’s natural gas mains, starting on Plum Street and Marsh Street today on Wednesday, October 27. Traffic will remain open while the crews are working there today. Tomorrow on Thursday, October 28, the crews will begin replacing the main on Division Street. During the replacement, some parking will be limited, but traffic will remain open.

Beginning in late October and lasting into November 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Mankato along the following streets: Division Street from Mulberry Street to Marsh Street; Plum Street from Hinckley Street to Division Street; Mulberry Street from Hinckley Street to Oaklawn Avenue; Marsh Street from Division Street to 914 Marsh Street; and just west of Alexander Park’s tennis courts between Main and Mulberry Streets.

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. Lane, parking and sidewalk closures will occur.

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.