Minneapolis - Bloomington Ave. S. from Franklin Ave. to Lake St. - Project Updates

This week and in the week of May 23, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, has been connecting the natural gas service lines to the new main under the east sidewalk of Bloomington Avenue S. between Lake Street E. and 28th Street E. During this time, parking will be restricted on both sides of Bloomington Avenue S. in this area.

In the week of May 16, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will replace the natural gas main under the east sidewalk of 16th Avenue S. between 25th and 22nd Streets E., before replacing the main under the south sidewalk of 22nd Street E. from Bloomington Avenue S. to 17th Avenue S. During this time, parking will be restricted on both sides of 22nd Street E., and a sidewalk will be closed on one side of the street.

On Wednesday, May 18, the crew will connect the new main to the existing intersecting mains at the southeast corner of Franklin and Bloomington Avenues. During this time, the crew will close a sidewalk in this corner and will place traffic barrels in the area.

By Friday, May 20, the crew plans to finish replacing all the project’s natural gas mains. Another Michels Corporation crew is connecting the service lines to the new mains and moving inside meters outside. They are working on Bloomington Avenue S., working north.

In the week of May 9, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will replace the natural gas main under the north sidewalk of 24th Street E. between 14th Avenue S. and 17th Avenue S., before replacing the main under the east sidewalk of 15th Avenue S. from 24th to 25th Streets E.

During this time, parking will be restricted on both sides of 24th Street E. in this area, and a lane will be closed on the south side of 24th Street E. The crew will close the east sidewalk and will close parking on both sides of the street.

The crew will then replace the main under the east sidewalk of 16th Avenue S., starting from 25th Street E. and working toward 22nd Street E. The same parking restrictions will apply at that time.

The crew plans to finish replacing the project’s mains late in the week of May 16. By this Friday, May 13, another Michels Corporation crew will begin connecting the service lines to the new mains and moving inside meters outside. They will start by Lake Street E. and Bloomington Avenue, working northbound.

In the week of May 2, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will replace the natural gas main under the east sidewalk of Bloomington Avenue S. between 22nd Street E and Franklin Avenue. During this time, parking will be restricted on both sides of Bloomington Avenue S. in this area, as well as a lane shift.

Once this installation is complete, they will replace the main under the north sidewalk of 21st Street E. from Bloomington Avenue S. to 14th Avenue S. Parking will be restricted on both sides of 21st Street E., and the north sidewalk will be closed.

The crew will then replace the main under the south sidewalk of 22nd Street E. from Bloomington Avenue S. to 14th Avenue S. Parking will be restricted on both sides of 22nd Street E., and the south sidewalk will be closed.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, is currently replacing the natural gas main under the east sidewalk of Bloomington Avenue S. from 26th to 24th Streets E. until Tuesday, April 26. When this section is complete, the crews will have taken down the traffic signs from the east sidewalk, the no parking signs from both sides of the road, and the traffic signs in the street for the lane shift to the west side.

From Tuesday, April 26 to Wednesday May 4, these traffic signs will be moved to Bloomington Avenue S. from 24th to 22nd Street W.

The crew will close one bus stop at a time. For a full list of Metro Transit’s schedules and maps, visit their website here: https://www.metrotransit.org/schedules-maps.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, is currently replacing the natural gas main under the east sidewalk of Bloomington Avenue S. from 29th to 27th Streets E. until the evening of Friday, April 15. By then, the crews will have taken down the traffic signs from the east sidewalk, and the no parking signs from both sides of the road, and the traffic signs from the east side of the road.

From Friday, April 15 to the evening of Tuesday, April 19, these traffic signs will be moved to Bloomington Avenue S. from 27th to 26th Street W. On Tuesday, April 19, these traffic signs will be moved to Bloomington Avenue S. from 26th to 24th Streets E.

The crew will close one bus stop at a time. For a full list of Metro Transit’s schedules and maps, visit their website here: https://www.metrotransit.org/schedules-maps.

This week beginning today on Monday, April 4, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will replace the project’s natural gas main under the east sidewalk on Bloomington Avenue S. from Lake Street E. to 29th Street. They are restricting parking on both sides of Bloomington Avenue S. and are closing the east lane and east sidewalk.

After this, the crew will move the traffic signs to the blocks between 29th and 27th Streets. They will backfill any excavations.

To expedite the work, the crew plans to work on some Saturdays throughout the project’s duration. This Saturday, April 9, they will work between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. We appreciate your understanding as we’re doing our best to finish efficiently.

From Monday, April 4 into summer 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Minneapolis along the following streets: Bloomington Avenue S. from Franklin Avenue E. to Lake Street E.; 21st Street E. from 14th Avenue S. to Bloomington Avenue S.; 22nd Street E. from 14th to 17th Avenues S.; 23rd Street E. from 15th Avenue S. to Bloomington Avenue S.; 24th Street E. from 14th to 17th Avenues S.; and 15th and 16th Avenues S. from 22nd to 25th 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 will occur. Parking may be restricted on the side of the street where the crews are working.

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.