Natural Gas Line Replacements in Bloomington
Anticipated timeline: Summer and Fall 2024
Project resources
If you contact CenterPoint Energy, please reference one of the projects’ work order numbers:- Project 1: 110741219 for work on Zenith Ave. S. and York Ave. S.
- Project 2: 110893304 for work on Morris Ln., 111th St. W., and 112th St. W.
- Project 3: 110953780 for work on Ewing Ave. S., Drew Ave. S., and Drew Cir.
- Project 4: 108807873 for work on Fremont Ave. S., Bryant Ave. S., Girard Ave. S., 82nd St. W., and 89th St. W.
- Project 5: 106975638 for work on 110th Street W. from Normandale Boulevard (CSAH 34) to Morris Avenue S.
- Project 6: 112456449 for work on 110th Street W. from Morris Avenue to France Avenue S. and on Little Avenue S. from 110th Street W. to Morris Lane
Overview
This summer 2024, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work on select streets in Bloomington to upgrade CenterPoint Energy’s natural gas infrastructure. The pipes used in these pipeline replacement and modernization projects are more resistant to corrosion and leakage, helping us continue to provide the safe, reliable service you count on that keeps you comfortable in your home.
Equix Integrity updates our records on the locations of sewer lines in relation to natural gas lines. Michels Corporation will replace natural gas mains, move inside meters to the outside of homes by appointment, and replace natural gas service lines as needed. Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. There will be no assessment or cost associated with our work. Parking and lane closures may occur.
Below are this year’s projects:
Project 1
This July 2024, the crews replaced a small-diameter natural gas plastic main, move inside meters outside by appointment, and replace and/or reconnect service lines to the new main on Zenith Avenue S. from Old Shakopee Road W. to Baillif Place and on York Avenue S. from Old Shakopee Road W. to Baillif Place.
Project 2
For a few weeks this summer 2024 (at a time to be determined), the crews will replace a small-diameter natural gas plastic main, move inside meters outside by appointment, and replace and/or reconnect service lines to the new main on the following streets: Morris Lane from Johnson Avenue S. to 112th Street W.; 112th Street W. from Morris Lane to Quinn Avenue S.; and 111th Street W. from Morris Lane to Johnson Avenue S.
Project 3
For a few weeks beginning Monday, August 19, the crews will replace a small-diameter natural gas plastic main, move inside meters outside by appointment, and replace and/or reconnect service lines to the new main on the following streets: Ewing Avenue S. from 110th Street W. to 112th Street W.; Drew Avenue S. from 110th Street W. to 112th Street W.; and Drew Circle at Drew Avenue S.
Project 4
For several months beginning Monday, July 22, the crews will replace a small-diameter natural gas plastic main, move inside meters outside by appointment, and replace and/or reconnect service lines to the new main on the following streets:- The cul-de-sac of Fremont Avenue S. at American Boulevard W.
- Fremont Avenue S. from 80th ½ Street W. to 86th Street W. and from 90th Street W. to 92nd Street W.
- Bryant Avenue S. from 82nd Street W. to 84th Street W. and from 86th Street W. to 90th Street W.
- Girard Avenue S. from 87th Street W. to 90th Street W.
- 82nd Street from Fremont Avenue S. to Bloomington Fwy E.
- 89th Street W. from Bryant Avenue S. to Aldrich Avenue S.
Project 5 (highlighted in blue in map below)
For about one month starting in early August, the crews will replace a large-diameter natural gas steel main on 110th Street W. from Normandale Boulevard (CSAH 34) to Morris Avenue S.
For most of the duration, two-way traffic will remain open with lane closures. Parking will be closed on both sides of the affected roads. One sidewalk will be closed at a time. Flaggers may be on site to help direct traffic. Please expect the following road closures at separate times:
- 110th Street from Toledo Avenue to Normandale Boulevard, with detour to Normandale Boulevard to W. Old Shakopee Road to France Avenue S.
- Quinn Avenue from 110th Street to 111th Street, with detour to 110th Street to Little Avenue to Morris Lane to 111th Street
- The intersection of Morris Avenue and 110th Street, with detour to Normandale Boulevard to W. Old Shakopee Road to France Avenue S.
Project 6 (highlighted in red in map above)
For about one month in August or September 2024, the crew will replace a small-diameter natural gas plastic main, move inside meters outside by appointment, and replace and/or reconnect service lines to the new main on 110th Street W. from Morris Avenue to France Avenue S. and on Little Avenue S. from 110th Street W. to Morris Lane.
Two-way traffic will remain open with lane closures. Parking will be closed on both sides of the affected roads. One sidewalk will be closed at a time.
Below is information related to the projects:
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.
If any utility flags are left in residents’ yards after the natural gas work and the restoration work is done, and the crew do not remove the flags, residents can remove the flags and throw them away.
Small-diameter natural gas main work
The crew typically bores the small-diameter plastic main underneath one side of the road. Please keep in mind that some intersections may not be permanently restored until after the service line work is done. After all customers’ service lines are transferred to the new main, the crew can connect the new main to the existing intersecting mains and put the new main into service. Then the restoration crew will permanently restore these areas. Until then, customers may see temporary backfill such as dirt or gravel. We thank you for your patience!
Service line and meter work
The customer will receive a CenterPoint Energy postcard in the mail describing 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 excavate a hole by the outside meter and another in the boulevard 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.
Large-diameter natural gas steel main work (only Project 5)
The crew needs to open trench the road to weld pieces of the main together. The crews will work with residents on maintaining access to and from their homes. Typical impacts during steel main replacement may include noise, dust, and vibrations. Restoration will follow the steel main work.
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!
