Minnetonka - County Road 101 - Project Updates

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors finished the project. While Michels Corporation replaced the project’s natural gas lines, Q3 Contracting restored the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. The traffic control devices associated with this project have been taken down. We appreciate your patience as we upgraded the natural gas lines.

Last week, crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, opened the westbound turn lane from southbound County Road 101 to Highway 7. They are replacing the natural gas main north of Highway 7. The frontage road from Dairy Queen to Target is closed. Drivers are encouraged to use the west frontage road behind Walgreens to travel north and south in this area.

By approximately Monday, June 28, the crews anticipate finishing the project’s natural gas work. This includes replacing the main, connecting the service lines to the new main, putting the existing main out of service, and connecting the new main to the existing intersecting mains. As restoration follows the gas work, the traffic barriers will be removed. 

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are progressing. Crews from Michels Corporation replaced project’s the natural gas lines south of Highway 7. When crews from Q3 Contracting have finished restoring the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work in this area, the traffic control barriers will be removed.

This week, crews from Michels Corporation will begin to replace the natural gas lines north of Highway 7. When they are finished with work in the northwestern corner of Highway 7 and County Road 101, they will open up the far west turn lane.

In addition to the existing traffic control, crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, added lane closures on the northbound and southbound lanes. In between Hutchins Drive and Highway 7 on County Road 101, both directions are down to one lane with full access to all turns. The purpose is for the connection of the natural gas service lines to the new main.

Beginning on Thursday, June 10 and lasting for approximately one week, the crews will close traffic for the turn lane from eastbound Highway 7 to southbound County Road 101. Detour signs will lead drivers east on County Road 7, south on Interstate 494 and west on 62nd Street W. toward County Road 101. The closure will allow the crews to replace the natural gas main across Highway 7 at County Road 101.

In the week of June 7, crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will begin replacing the project’s natural gas lines on County Road 101. They will start on the project’s north side. They will work in the private frontage road west of County Road 101 and will have flaggers directing traffic on County Road 101. In approximately two weeks, they anticipate finishing the project’s natural gas line work. Restoration will follow with work from Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor. Customers accessing the Target and other businesses west of County Road 101 will have access to and from the businesses. The crews will most likely have a lane shift on the frontage road.

This week, crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, have a northbound lane shift on County Road 101 from Old Excelsior Boulevard to Highway 7 and an eastbound lane shift on Hutchins Drive east of County Road 101. They will be replacing the natural gas main on these streets.

From the week of May 24 to mid-summer 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Minnetonka along County Road 101 at the following streets: from Excelsior Boulevard to just north of Highway 7; at Bennett Family Park; and at Minnetonka Boulevard.

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.

For most of the project’s duration, lane, sidewalk and parking closures may occur. Below are the project’s traffic details that may occur in segments rather than all at once: The crews will close the frontage road on the west side of County Road 101 from Seven Hills Drive to Highway 7. CenterPoint Energy will coordinate with the local businesses. The crews will close the right turn lane from northbound County Road 101 to eastbound Seven Hills Drive.

During the lane closure of southbound County Road 101 at Highway 7, trucks cannot turn right onto westbound Highway 7. They should use an alternate route. When the crews cross Highway 7 and County Road 101, a detour route will lead drivers east on County Road 7, south on Interstate 494 and west on 62nd Street W. toward County Road 101.