Minneapolis – Bancroft Neighborhood
Anticipated timeline
- Project 1: A couple of months beginning mid-May 2023
- Project 2: Approx. 3 weeks starting Monday, July 24
- Project 3: Several months beginning in late July 2023
- If you contact CenterPoint Energy, please reference the one of the project’s numbers:
Overview
For several months this 2023 construction season, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work on select streets throughout the Bancroft Neighborhood in Minneapolis. Equix Integrity will update our records on the locations of sewer lines in relation to natural gas lines. Michels Corporation will replace the natural gas lines and move inside meters outside. Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work.
There will be no assessment or cost associated with our work. Find more project information pertaining to all three projects at the bottom of this page.
We appreciate your patience as we work as efficiently as we can!
Project 1
This May and June, Michels Corporation worked on 10th Avenue S. from 38th to 39th Streets E. They replaced a small-diameter natural gas plastic main, moved inside meters outside by appointment, and replaced or reconnected the residents’ service lines to this new main.
For approximately two months beginning in late June, the crews will replace the large-diameter natural gas steel main along Elliot Avenue between 36th and 39th Streets E. One sidewalk will remain open at a time. For most of the road closures, vehicular traffic will be detoured to the next block over. Below is the crews’ anticipated schedule for this month:
- From Friday, July 14 to Wednesday, July 26, the crew will close Elliot Avenue S. from 37th to 38th Streets E.
- Until the end of the day on Thursday, July 20, they plan to keep Elliot Avenue closed to through traffic on Elliot Avenue from 37th to 38th Streets E.
- From Friday, July 21 to Friday, July 28, the closure will extend on Elliot Avenue S. from 37th to 39th Streets E. During this time, the gas crew will replace the steel main on the 3800 block, while the 3700 block will be restored and reopened.
- From Friday, July 21 to Friday, July 28, the crews will close 38th Street E. at Elliot Avenue, detouring through traffic to Bloomington Avenue S., 35th Street E., and Park or Portland Avenues S.
Project 2
From the week of Monday, July 24 into the week of Monday, August 14, the crews will work at the intersection of 42nd Street E. and 18th Avenue S. Michels Corporation will replace a natural gas main, replace a service line, and put the existing natural gas main out of service.
The natural gas work is expected for last for approximately one week, with the remaining two weeks for restoration. There will be no assessment or cost associated with our work. During this time, 18th Avenue S. will be closed at 42nd Street E., while eastbound and westbound traffic will remain open on 42nd Street E. Detour signs will lead through traffic to 41st or 43rd Streets E. and to Cedar Avenue. The sidewalks on the east side of 18th Avenue S. and the north side of 42nd Street E. will be closed.
Project 3
For several months beginning in late July 2023, the crews will move inside meters outside by appointment and will replace some service lines along select streets.
Along the following streets, the crews will replace natural gas mains, move inside meters outside by appointment, and replace and/or reconnect service lines to the new mains:
- 36th Street E. from Park to Elliot Avenues S.
- 37th Street E. from 12th to 14th Avenues S.
Along the following streets, the crews will move inside meters outside by appointment and will replace some service lines:
- Chicago Avenue S. from 37th to 40th Streets E.
- 10th Avenue S. from 36th to 37th Streets E. and from 39th to 40th Streets E.
- 11th Avenue S. from 36th to 40th Streets E.
- 12th Avenue S. from 36th to 40th Streets E.
- 13th Avenue S. from 36th to 40th Streets E.
- 15th Avenue S. from 36th to 40th Streets E.
- Bloomington Avenue S. just north of 38th Street E.
- 36th Street E. from Elliot Avenue S. to 12th Avenue S.
- 37th Street E. from 10th Avenue S. to Bloomington Avenue S.
During this time, expect lane, parking, and sidewalk closures where the crews are working. In some blocks, parking may be restricted on one or both sides of the road, while one sidewalk usually remains open.
Marking utilities
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.
Small-diameter plastic main work
One crew will replace the small-diameter natural gas main. They plan to bore it underneath a sidewalk. Another crew will work on the service lines and meters.
Please keep in mind that 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.
Service line and meter work
The customer will receive a CenterPoint Energy postcard in the mail explaining 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 technician 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.
Restoration
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 made of wood fiber that degrades over about four months. Prior to mowing the restored area, remove any loose staples that secured the netting. For photo examples, please visit our
Restoration Practices page.
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.
