Minneapolis - Morris Park - Project Updates

A crew from Q3, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, replaced all the project’s natural gas lines south of Highway 62. The crew put down winter erosion control on the areas affected by construction. The hard surfaces have temporary asphalt, including those that were previously concrete. In spring 2022, the crew will restore them to their original condition. On the excavations in boulevards and lawns, the crew backfilled them with dirt and placed netting over them. In spring 2022, they will return with black dirt and seed.

The gas work north of Highway 62 has been postponed to 2022. More information will be provided closer to that timeline.

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

By mid-November 2021, a crew from Q3, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, plans to finish connecting the service lines to the new mains along the project’s streets south of Highway 62. These streets include 42nd, 43rd, 44th and 45th Avenues S. and 59th Street E. The service line work north of Highway 62 will be completed in 2022.

Early in the week of October 11, a crew from Q3, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will put the last of the project’s natural gas mains in the ground. At a later date, they will return to connect the new mains to the existing intersecting mains.

Another Q3 crew is connecting the natural gas service lines to the new mains along the following roads: 42nd, 43rd, 44th and 45th Avenues S. and 59th Street E. They anticipate finishing the gas work on these streets in mid-November. The crew will contact customers to schedule appointments for the service line work.

In areas of active construction, parking and the sidewalk will be restricted on the side of the road where the crews are working.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, Q3 Contracting, has replaced the project’s natural gas mains on 42nd, 43rd, 44th, and 45th Avenues S. between 58th and 59th Streets E. and on 59th Street E. between 42nd and 46th Avenues S. This week, they are beginning to connect the natural gas service lines to the new mains. No parking signs will be placed where the crews are working.

A crew from Q3 will begin replacing the project’s natural gas mains on Monday, September 20 on 59th Street E., starting at 45th Avenue S. and working west toward 42nd Avenue S. During this time, traffic will remain open, but parking will be closed wherever the crews are working.

The crews estimate that the project will last for a total of approximately eight weeks. This includes replacing the natural gas mains, connecting the service lines to the new mains, moving the inside meters outside, and restoring the areas affected by their work.

Beginning in mid-September and lasting into summer 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, Q3 Contracting, will work in Minneapolis’s Morris Park. The crews will replace natural gas mains, connect the natural gas service lines to the new mains, move any inside residential meters outside, and restore the areas affected by their work.

The following roads will have main and service line work: 42nd, 43rd, 44th, and 45th Avenues S. between 58th and 59th Streets E.; and 59th Street E. from 42nd Avenue S. to the alley between 45th and 46th Avenues S.

The following roads will have only service line work: 42nd Avenue S. from 56th to 58th Streets E.; 43rd Avenue S. from 54th to 58th Streets E.; 44th Avenue S. from 54th to 58th Streets E.; 45th Avenue S. from 54th to 58th Streets E.; 46th Avenue S. from 54th to 57th Streets E.

During this time, lane and parking closures may occur. For a limited time, the crews will close 42nd Avenue S. just south of 58th Street E. and 59th Street E. from 45th Avenue S. to the alley between 45th to 46th Avenues S.

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.

Crews from Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will follow to restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work, including hard and soft surfaces. 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.