Minneapolis – Armatage Neighborhood
Anticipated timeline:
- Project 1: permanent restoration in spring 2024 (timing to be determined)
- Project 2: Monday, April 1 into late summer 2024
- Project 3: Early April into early summer 2024
- If you contact CenterPoint Energy, please reference one of the work order numbers:
- Project 1: Pennhurst ISM for in-to-out meter moves in 2023, winter restoration in 2023, and permanent restoration in spring or early summer 2024
- Project 2:
- 109562298 for the small-diameter plastic main and service lines on Upton Ave. S. and 58th St. W.
- 109641000 for the large-diameter steel main on Upton Ave. S. and 58th St. W.
What did CenterPoint Energy do in 2023?
In 2023, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors replaced natural gas lines in two areas in the Armatage Neighborhood in Minneapolis. The first area was from Penn to Irving Avenues S. and from 58th to 62nd Streets W. The second area was from Xerxes to Penn Avenues S. and from 54th to 58th Streets W.
Since some of the work lasted into November 2023, restoration of the affected areas included winter erosion control on soft surfaces and temporary asphalt on hard surfaces. Crews will return in spring 2024 to permanently restore the areas that received winter restoration.
What will CenterPoint Energy do in 2024?
From early April into summer 2024, the crews will return to Armatage for two separate projects. This work is in conjunction with the City of Minneapolis’s
Pennhurst South Residential Resurfacing.
In one project (Project 2), the crews will replace a small-diameter plastic main, move inside meters outside by appointment, replace and/or reconnect service lines to the first main, and replace a large-diameter steel main. From Monday, April 1 to early summer 2024, they will work along the following streets:
- Upton Avenue S. from 55th to 58th Streets W.
- 58th Street W. from Upton to Xerxes Avenues S.
- 54th Street W. just east of Upton Avenue S.
In another project (Project 3), the crews will only move inside meters outside by appointment and replace service lines as needed. From early or mid-April to early summer 2024, this will happen along the following streets:
- Xerxes Avenue S. at 56th Street W.
- Washburn Avenue S. from 55th to 58th Street W.
- Sheridan Avenue S. from 56th to 58th Streets W.
- Cumberland Road from 55th to 56th Streets W.
- Queen Avenue S. from 54th to 55th Streets W.
- Penn Avenue S. at 54th Street W.
- Robbins Street from Upton Avenue S. to Cumberland Road
- 55th Street W. from Upton Avenue S. to Cumberland Road
CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors
Equix Integrity updates our records on the locations of sewer lines in relation to natural gas lines. Michels Corporation replaces natural gas lines, moves inside meters to the outside of homes, and replaces or reconnects service lines as needed. Q3 Contracting restores the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. There will be no assessment or cost associated with our work.
Marking utilities (Projects 2 and 3)
CenterPoint Energy will contact Gopher State One Call 811 to locate public underground utilities such as water, sewer, and cable. You will see markings such as spray paint and utility flags. They will be color-coordinated to indicate a separate utility.
If you have installed any private lines such as sprinklers or dog fences, we ask that you mark them with whatever material is convenient for you. Examples include spray paint, flags, and wooden sticks used to stir paint. Marking sprinkler heads is sufficient.
If any utility flags are left in residents’ yards after the natural gas work and the restoration work is done, and the crew do not remove the flags, residents can remove the flags and throw them away.
Small-diameter plastic main (Project 2)
The crew plans to bore the main underneath one sidewalk on each road. Parking will be closed on both sides of the affected roads, and one sidewalk will remain open. The crews plan to temporarily close 58th Street W. from Upton Avenue S. to Thomas Circle and from Xerxes to Washburn Avenues S.
Some intersections or some sidewalk panels at intersections may not be permanently restored until after the service line work is done. After all customers’ service lines are transferred to the new main, the crew can connect the new main to the existing intersecting mains and put the new main into service. Then the restoration crew will permanently restore these areas. Until then, customers may see temporary backfill such as dirt or gravel. We thank you for your patience!
Service line and meter work (Projects 2 and 3)
The customer will receive a CenterPoint Energy postcard in the mail describing the project before the natural gas crews perform the work. The crews will have CenterPoint Energy-authorized photo IDs. 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 arrive, they will leave a door tag with their contact information to schedule an appointment with them.
One natural gas crew typically works on about one block per week. They will either fully replace the service line or reconnect it to the new main, depending on the line’s age. For most properties, the crews remove at least one sidewalk panel in front of the house, excavate a hole by the outside meter, and bore the service line from the sidewalk to the house.
For inside meters, the crew will make a two- to three-hour appointment at a time that works with the resident. We encourage customers to work with the crew on where they want the meter to go, keeping limitations in mind such as a minimum of three feet away from areas such as windows, doors, and vents. Customers with outside meters will be notified prior to the replacement or connection of the service lines to the new mains.
The technician 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.
Large-diameter steel main (Project 2)
This summer at dates to be determined, the crew will replace a large-diameter natural gas steel main on the same streets as the previous gas work. The crew needs to open trench the road to weld pieces of the main together. Please expect road closures for a few blocks at a time and a sidewalk closure on one side of the road. Traffic will be detoured to one or two blocks over. The crews will work with residents on maintaining access to and from their homes. Typical impacts during steel main replacement may include noise, dust, and vibrations. Restoration will follow the steel main work.
Restoration (all projects)
After the service line and meter work, the gas crew will backfill the excavated areas with dirt or gravel. This will be temporary before the restoration crew comes. On boulevards and lawns, they will refill the areas with black dirt, grass seed, and netting that degrades over about four months. Prior to mowing the restored area, remove any loose staples that secured the blanket.
We hope to minimize the disruption as much as possible. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we replace our infrastructure. We wish you a great season!
