Minneapolis - 40th Street E. and Hiawatha Avenue - Project Updates

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, is finishing a portion of the project’s natural gas work. This includes replacing the small-diameter natural gas plastic mains, connecting the service lines to these mains, and moving inside meters outside. For the near future, they will finish the final work on the service lines and meters.

Another Michels Corporation crew has been replacing the project’s large-diameter natural gas steel main. From this week until approximately Friday, June 24, they will have replaced the main across Hiawatha Avenue at 40th Street E. During this time, they are shifting traffic one lane at a time.

This week, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, has been replacing the natural gas under the south side of the road of E. 39th Street between Minnehaha and Cheatham Avenues.

From approximately Tuesday, June 7 to Thursday, June 9, the crew is connecting customers’ natural gas service lines to the new main on E. 39th Street. During this time, they have closed E. 39th St. between Cheatham and Minnehaha Avenues. Snelling Avenue will remain open for northbound and southbound traffic.

From approximately Friday, June 10 to Saturday, June 11, the crew will replace a small section of natural gas on the corner of E. 38th Street and Cheatham Avenue. On Saturday, June 11, we will have the westbound lane of E. 38th Street closed between Cheatham and Snelling Avenues to work on natural gas services.

The crew plans to complete the project’s natural gas work by approximately Tuesday, June 14. A crew from Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will follow to restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work.

This week, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors finished working on a small portion of the project’s area. A crew from Michels Corporation replaced the natural gas main on the east side of Hiawatha Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets E. Q3 Contracting has restored and opened the affected area.

In the week of May 23, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will replace the natural gas under the south side of the road of 40th Street E. between Minnehaha and Cheatham Avenues, and under the west side of Cheatham Avenue between 39th and 40th Streets E.

From approximately Tuesday, May 24 to Friday, May 27, they plan to close Cheatham Avenue from 39th to 40th Streets E. in addition to 40th Street E. from Cheatham to Minnehaha Avenues. They plan to keep the cross streets open at Cheatham, Snelling, and Minnehaha Avenues.

During this time, the crew will close the sidewalk on the side of the road where they’re working. They will restrict parking on the south side of 40th Street E. and as needed on Cheatham Avenue. They will also begin connecting the service lines to the new main on 40th Street E. and will be moving inside meters outside.

Over Memorial Day weekend, the crew will cover any excavated areas that have not been restored yet. In the week of May 30, they plan to replace the main under the south road of 39th Street E. between Cheatham and Minnehaha Avenues. on both sides of 39th Street E.

From Monday, May 16 into summer 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Minneapolis along 40th Street E. from Hiawatha Avenue to the alley between Snelling and Minnehaha Avenues, and along Hiawatha Avenue from 43rd to 44th Streets E. While Michels Corporation will replace the natural gas mains, connect the natural gas service lines to the new mains, and move any inside meters outside, Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work.

In the week of May 16, a Michels Corporation crew will replace the natural gas under the south sidewalk of 40th Street E. between Minnehaha Avenue and Cheatham Avenue. During this time, the sidewalk will be closed, and parking will be closed on the south side of the road. We will replace natural gas mains on the west side of Cheatham Avenue between 39th and 40th Streets E. During this time, the traffic control will be set up where the crews are working.

Additional projects will happen near this one. More information will be provided closer to their timelines.

This spring 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Minneapolis along 40th Street E. from Hiawatha Avenue to the alley between Snelling and Minnehaha Avenues, and along Hiawatha Avenue from 43rd to 44th Streets E. While Michels Corporation will replace the natural gas mains, connect the natural gas service lines to the new mains, and move any inside meters outside, Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work.

During this time, lane shifts, parking restrictions, and road and sidewalk closures may occur. More information will be posted throughout the project’s timeline.

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.