Minneapolis - Main Street NE and 2nd Street NE - Project Updates

Within the week of December 13, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, plans to finish replacing the project’s natural gas lines. This includes connecting the service lines to the new mains.

The information below regarding winter restoration remains the same. A crew from Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will put down winter erosion control this year and return next year for permanent restoration.

We appreciate your patience as we upgraded our natural gas lines, ensuring system reliability for years to come. We wish you a safe season!

On Monday, November 29, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will begin connecting the service lines to the new mains, starting on Main Street NE and following the main crew’s route. Please read the information below regarding CenterPoint Energy’s COVID-19 protocol and information about inside meters being moved outside.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, is beginning to replace the project’s natural gas mains. From today on Thursday, November 18 to early in the week of November 22, they will work under the east sidewalk of Main Street NE from 35th to 37th Avenues NE. They have closed Main Street NE to through traffic in this area, maintaining local access. Pedestrian traffic is detoured to the west side of Main Street NE.

Early in the week of November 22, the crew will replace the main on the north side of 35th Avenue NE from Main Street NE to 2nd Street NE. After that is done, they will begin replacing the main under the east sidewalk of 2nd Street NE from Edge Place to 36th Avenue NE. In the weeks of November 22 and 29, they will close parking on both sides of 2nd Street NE.

From Friday, November 19 to Wednesday, November 24, the bus stop at the northeastern corner of 35th Avenue NE and Main Street NE will be closed. Other closures may be posted once the work on 2nd Street NE begins.

Occurring this November and December, pausing in winter, and resuming in spring 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Minneapolis along the following streets: Main Street NE from 35th to 37th Avenues NE; 2nd Street NE from Edge Place to just north of 36th Avenue NE; and 35th Avenue NE from Main Street NE to 2nd Street NE.

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

This November and December, Michels Corporation will replace the gas mains. In spring, they will return to connect the service lines to the new mains. In areas of active construction, parking, lane, and sidewalk closures may occur. Main Street NE will be closed to through traffic between 35th and 37th Avenues NE while the crews are working there.

This season, Q3 Contracting will put down winter erosion control on the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. The hard surfaces will have temporary asphalt, including those that were previously concrete. In spring 2022, the crews will restore them to their original condition. On any excavations in boulevards and lawns, they will backfill with dirt and place netting over these areas. In spring 2022, they will return with black dirt and seed.

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.