Natural Gas Line Replacements in Golden Valley
Anticipated timeline: Monday, April 1 into June 2024
Project resources
- If you contact CenterPoint Energy, please reference one of the projects’ work order numbers
- Project 2: 111491663 for Ellis Lane and 111491666 for Varner Circle
Overview
This 2024 construction season, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work on select streets in Golden Valley to upgrade CenterPoint Energy’s natural gas infrastructure. They are working in coordination with the City of Golden Valley on their
Pavement Management Program. 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.
Below are this year’s projects:
Project 1 (109011280)
From Monday, April 1 into late May 2024, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work on the following streets in Golden Valley
:
- Wisconsin Avenue N. from 23rd Avenue N. to Westbend Road
- Orkla Drive from 23rd Avenue N. to Westbend Road
- Valders Avenue N. from 23rd Avenue N. to Winnetka Heights Drive
- Winnetka Heights Drive from Orkla Drive to Valders Avenue N.
- Westbend Road from Wisconsin Avenue N. to Valders Avenue N.
- Duluth Street from Wisconsin Avenue N. to Winnetka Avenue N.
Project 2 (111491663 and 111491666)
This June 2024, the crews will work on Olson Memorial Highway Frontage Road between Glenwood Avenue and Jersey Avenue N.; the cul-de-sac of Ellis Lane at Glenwood Avenue; and the cul-de-sac of Varner Circle at Olson Memorial Highway Frontage Road.
Parking will be restricted on both sides of the roads. Residents will have access to and from their homes. Flaggers will be on site helping direct traffic on Glenwood Avenue.
Project 3 (111493829)
This June 2024, the crews will work on Culver Road from Kyle Avenue N. to June Avenue N. and on the cul-de-sac of June Avenue N. at Culver Road.
Parking will be restricted on both sides of the roads. Residents will have access to and from their homes.
Below is information related to all 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.
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.
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.
