9/20/2022

Corrections: CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are progressing on the project. This week, a crew from Michels Corporation plans to finish putting the new large-diameter natural gas steel main into the ground on 56th Street E. between Chicago Avenue S. and Edgewater Boulevard. The cross streets are currently open. This week, Q3 Contracting plans to begin restoring 56th Street E. They anticipate opening it up within approximately two weeks.


Within approximately two or three weeks, as they finish the project’s remaining main replacements, they will return to the intersection of 56th Street E. and Chicago Avenue S. to connect the new main to the existing intersecting one. Within this same timeframe, they will connect the new main to the existing intersecting one in the boulevard of Edgewater Boulevard.


In the week of September 26, a crew from Michels Corporation plans to begin replacing the steel main on Edgewater Boulevard from 56th Street E. to Nokomis Lane. (Earlier this spring, the steel main was replaced on Edgewater Boulevard from Nokomis Lane to Cedar Avenue.) For approximately three weeks, Edgewater Boulevard will be closed to through traffic. Restoration is anticipated to occur by approximately the end of the three, if not four, weeks.

8/25/2022

In the week of August 29, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will begin replacing a large-diameter natural gas steel main on 56th Street E. The new main will run from Chicago Avenue to Cedar Avenue. The anticipated duration of the steel main replacement is approximately 10 weeks with restoration to follow.


On Tuesday, August 30, they plan to work in the intersections of Columbus Avenue S., 13th Avenue S., and Cedar Avenue S. to prepare to put the existing main out of service. The duration of this work is one business day.


For approximately one week at a time, the crew will close two blocks at a time and reopen them as they move. During this time, 56th Street E. will be closed to through traffic. Sidewalk closures will alternate as needed to maintain pedestrian access. One intersection within this two-block closure will be closed at a time.


The crew will begin working west to east, starting from Chicago to 10th Avenues S.


While Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will put down temporary asphalt as 56th Street E. is reopened, the City of Minneapolis will put down the final layer of asphalt.

4/26/2022

In the week of April 25, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will replace the natural gas main under the south sidewalk of 56th Street E. at the following intersections: 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and Bloomington Avenues S. During this time, parking will be restricted on both sides of the intersections, and the south sidewalk will be closed.


By this Friday, April 29, the crew will have replaced the first of the project’s two natural gas mains, connected the service lines to this new main, and moved inside meters outside. As the crews are working, they are backfilling the excavated areas in the road and sidewalks with temporary gravel. They are also removing the traffic signs associated with their work. Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will restore these areas that will not be affected by the project’s second and final main replacement.


A third Michels Corporation crew will begin replacing the second and final of the project’s mains. More information will be posted closer to the start date of the work.

4/15/2022

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, have finished the replacement of the natural gas main under the south sidewalk of 56th Street E between 12th and 15th Ave S.


At a later time, the crew will return to the intersections of 12th, 13th, and 14th Avenues S. Work will be done just north and south of 56th Street E. to connect the new main to the new existing intersecting mains.


From today on Friday, April 15 to Friday, April 22, the crew will close Edgewater Boulevard at 56th Street E. During this time, the crew will temporarily take down the traffic signs in the evening tonight and put back up the signs in the morning of Monday, April 18.

4/7/2022

This week, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, began replacing the project’s natural gas mains. They are replacing the main under the south sidewalk of 56th Street E. from 12th Avenue S. to Edgewater Boulevard. In active areas of construction, parking will be restricted on both sides of 56th Street E., and the south sidewalk will be closed.


Pending weather, in the week of April 11, the crews are planning two road closures. The first is expected to last from Monday, April 11 to the end of the day on Wednesday, April 13. This will be on 56th Street E. from 15th Avenue S. to Edgewater Boulevard. The alley entrance will be closed on 56th Street E. The detour route will lead through traffic to 57th Street E. via 15th or 16th Avenues S.


The second is expected to last from Thursday, April 14 to the end of the day on Friday, April 15. This will be on Edgewater Boulevard from 56th Street E. to Nokomis Lane. The detour route will lead through traffic to 57th Street E. via Nokomis Lane or Bloomington Avenue S.


For approximately 5 or 6 weeks, the crew plans to replace the project’s natural gas mains, connect the service lines to the new mains, and move the inside residential meters outside. After this work is done, another Michels Corporation crew will replace the natural gas steel main. The date is to be determined. More information will be provided closer to that portion of the project’s work.

What will CenterPoint Energy do?

From Monday, April 4 into summer or fall 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Minneapolis along 56th Street E. from Chicago Avenue S. to Edgewater Boulevard and along Edgewater Boulevard from 56th Street E. to Cedar Avenue. While Michels Corporation will replace two natural gas mains, connect natural gas service lines to the first new main, and move any inside meters outside, Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work outside the limits of work by the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County and Minnesota Department of Transportation.

What are the anticipated traffic impacts?

Phase 1: The crews plan to replace the first main, which is small-diameter plastic, under the south sidewalk along 56th Street E. from 12th Avenue S. to Bloomington Avenue S. During this time, they will close parking and the sidewalk on that side. The north parking and sidewalk will be open during this closure. Flaggers may be at the intersections helping direct traffic.


On 56th Street E. from Edgewater Boulevard to the alley between 15th and Bloomington Avenues S., and on Edgewater Boulevard from Bloomington Avenue S. to Nokomis Lane, the crews will close from one to a few blocks at a time. Detour signs will lead through traffic to the next block over.


Phase 2: When the crews connect the service lines to the new main, they will work on one side of the road at a time.


Phase 3: The second main is large-diameter steel. Since the crews weld the pieces of the pipe together, the steel main replacement requires open excavation and takes longer to install than the small-diameter plastic main. Time spent on each block will vary due to the size of the block, the steel offsets, the restoration preparation, and the weather.


The crews anticipate closing one or more blocks at a time. Detour signs will be posted. One sidewalk will be closed at a time. Steel plates may be used for driveway crossings.


Phase 4: The timing of Phase 3 is to be determined. When Phase 2 is done, the crews for Phase 4 will restore the areas affected by Phases 1 and 2. The areas that will be affected by Phase 3 will have temporary restoration. This may include asphalt on previously concrete areas until after Phase 3 is done.

What is CenterPoint Energy’s COVID-19 protocol?

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.

What if I have an inside gas meter?

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.

What should I expect during soft surface restoration?

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.