Minneapolis - Kenwood Neighborhood - Project Updates

This week, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, is replacing the natural gas main on 22nd Street W. between 21st Street W. and Kenwood Parkway. Beginning on Friday, October 22 or Saturday, October 23 and lasting through the week of October 25, the crew plans to begin replacing the main on 21st Street W. between Thomas Avenue S. and Kenwood Parkway. During this time, parking will be restricted on the south side of 21st Street W.

On Friday, October 29 or Monday, November 1, the crew will begin replacing the main along the east side of Kenwood Parkway from the north side of the intersection of 21st Street W. to the middle of the intersection of 22nd Street W.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, has been replacing the natural gas main along Upton Avenue S. at Kenilworth Place, Thomas Avenue S. and Sheridan Avenue S. and along Sheridan Avenue S. at 24th Street W. They anticipate that the main replacements will finish in these areas by the afternoon of Monday, October 18.

Beginning on Tuesday, October 19 and lasting for 1.5 weeks, the crew will begin replacing the main on 22nd Street W. between 21st Street W. and Kenwood Parkway and on Sheridan Avenue S. from 22nd Street W. to the middle of the block. During this time, the crews will close 22nd Street W. to through traffic, detouring through traffic to 21st Street W. and Kenwood Parkway. Local access will be maintained.

When these replacements are done, they will replace the main on 21st Street W. between Thomas Avenue S. and Kenwood Parkway from early November to Thanksgiving.

On Tuesday, September 28, a crew from Michels Corporation will begin replacing the project’s natural gas mains. They will start on Upton Avenue from Kenilworth Place heading toward 24th Street W. The crew anticipates finishing the main replacement late within the week of October 4. During this time, Upton Avenue will be open to traffic. Flaggers may be on site helping direct traffic. In some areas, the crews may close small areas while allowing local access.

The crews estimate that the project’s natural gas main replacements will take between 10 and 11 weeks. In spring 2022, they will return to connect the natural gas service lines to the new mains. The service line work will take approximately 11 weeks for one crew. More information will be provided closer to the project’s 2022 start date.

This year, Q3 Contracting will follow Michels Corporation to restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. When the weather is too cold for permanent restoration, the crews will put temporary restoration down. This will include asphalt for areas that were previously concrete, and there will be hydromulch over boulevards and lawns.

We appreciate your patience as we upgrade our natural gas lines.

Beginning in the week of September 27 and lasting into summer 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Minneapolis along the following streets: 21st Street W. from Thomas Avenue S. to the alley between Penn and Oliver Avenues S.; 22nd Street W. between Thomas Avenue S. and Kenwood Parkway; Kenwood Parkway between 21st and 22nd Streets W.; Sheridan Avenue S. between 22nd Street W. and Burnham Road; and Upton Avenue S. between Burnham Road and Kenilworth Place.

While Michels Corporation will replace the natural gas main, connect the natural gas service lines to the new main, and move any inside residential meters outside, Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work.

The crews will close one or more blocks at a time to through traffic, detouring traffic to the next block or two over. They will move the traffic barriers as they progress to the next block. One sidewalk will be closed at a time. In some areas, only parking will be restricted. Flaggers may be on site helping direct traffic.

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.