Project 1: 14th Ave. N. from Knox to Aldrich Avenues N.
This spring 2023 for approximately one or two months, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work on the following streets throughout the Near North Central Neighborhood in Minneapolis:
- 14th Avenue N. from Knox to Aldrich Avenues N.
- 16th Avenue N. from Knox to Irving Avenues N.
- Knox Avenue N. from Plymouth Avenue N. to 14th Avenue N.
- James Avenue N. from Plymouth Avenue N. to 14th Avenue N.
- Irving Avenue N. from Plymouth Avenue N. to 16th Avenue N.
- Girard Avenue N. from Plymouth Avenue N. to 15th Avenue N.
- Dupont Avenue N. from Plymouth Avenue N. to 15th Avenue N.
Project 2: Select streets in Willard-Hay
For several months beginning in early July 2023, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work on select streets in the Willard-Hay neighborhood in Minneapolis.
On Russell Avenue N. from Golden Valley Road to Plymouth Avenue N., the crews will replace a natural gas main, move inside meters outside by appointment, and replace and/or reconnect the service lines to the new main. The main will be replaced on the west side of Russell Avenue N.
On the following streets, the crews will only move inside meters outside by appointment and replace some service lines:
- Xerxes, Vincent, Upton, Thomas, Sheridan, and Penn Avenues N. between Golden Valley Road to Plymouth Avenue N.
- Washburn Avenue N. between 17th Avenue N. and Plymouth Avenue N.
- Queen Avenue N. between Golden Valley Road and 17th Avenue N. and between 16th Avenue N. and Plymouth Avenue N.
- 18th Avenue N. between Xerxes and Vincent Avenues N.
For most of the project’s duration, expect some parking, lane, and sidewalk closures on one or both sides of the road where the crews are working. The crews plan to close the following streets temporarily: 16th Avenue N. from Sheridan to Russell Avenues N., and Russell Avenue N. from Plymouth Avenue N. to Golden Valley Road.
Overview for both projects
Equix Integrity will update our records on the locations of sewer lines in relation to natural gas lines. A natural gas contractor will move inside meters to the outside of homes and replace natural gas service lines as needed. Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by the gas contractor’s work. (They wil work outside the limits of the City of Minneapolis’s work on 14th Ave. N.) There will be no assessment or cost associated with our work.
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.
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.
