Natural Gas Line Upgrades in Minnetonka
We are committed to keeping our customers informed about important updates we are making to our infrastructure – designed to enhance safety, improve reliability, and continue to provide you with the energy you need for life's moments. The following outlines the work we plan to complete this year in Minnetonka.
Project resources
Overview
CenterPoint Energy will replace natural gas infrastructure in multiple locations within Minnetonka. Information on all high impact projects can be found here. There is no cost associated with this work.
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Day Place
Beginning as early as June 16 and lasting until early August, CenterPoint will be upgrading the plastic natural gas main and service lines in central Minnetonka. This construction is scheduled ahead of the City's road upgrades. For more information about Minnetonka's construction, click
here.
Minnetonka Boulevard
For approximately four months, beginning in early May, CenterPoint Energy will upgrade natural gas infrastructure along Minnetonka Boulevard between Tonkawood Road and Williston Road. Utility work related to this project will include both plastic and steel gas main work. See the "Natural gas main replacements" section below for more information.
This construction is in relation to the Minnetonka Boulevard Trail Project being done by The City of Minnetonka. For more information about The City's project, click here.
Minnetonka Boulevard and connected streets
Beginning as early as July 28, 2025, and lasting up to 1 month, CenterPoint Energy will upgrade natural gas infrastructure on Minnetonka Blvd and connected streets. This project is in coordination with paving efforts by the City of Minnetonka.
Carleton Road
For over one month, beginning in mid-May, the infrastructure on Carleton Road, Birchwood Lane, Arlington Drive and Valley Drive will be modernized. This project involves only plastic main replacements.
Contractor Summary
CenterPoint works with multiple contractors to complete construction projects in a safe and timely manner. You will see these contractors working in your area and may be contacted by them at various stages in the construction process. Employees of authorized contractors will have CenterPoint Energy identification cards. Do not allow anyone inside your home without seeing identification.
The first contractor that will be seen in the area will be locating sewer laterals that extend from properties to the sewer line in the street. This is an important safety measure that CenterPoint Energy is required to execute before beginning construction. For more information about the importance of locating sewer laterals visit CallBeforeYouClear.com.
Marking utilities
CenterPoint Energy will locate public underground utilities. This is an important safety preparation, done before construction begins. The utilities will be marked with spray paint and flags. If you have installed any private lines such as sprinklers or dog fences, we ask that you mark them with a material that 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 restoration is complete, they may be removed and thrown away.
Natural gas main work
Plastic mains reaching the end of their useful life are replaced with modern plastic piping that increases the safety and reliability of CenterPoint's gas distribution. Plastic main is replaced by boring underneath the side of each road.
Large diameter steel gas main will be installed and will require a trench to be opened in the road. The new main will have protective coatings that add to the infrastructure's durability. Typical impacts of steel main construction include noise, vibrations, and dust.
Please keep in mind that some intersections may not be permanently restored until after the service work is complete. Until then, customers may see temporary backfill such as dirt or gravel.
Service line and meter work
CenterPoint Energy will send a postcard in the mail before the service crew comes on site. A technician will schedule appointments for relighting gas service to each property.
One natural gas crew typically completes one block per week. 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.
The crew will make appointments with residents to move inside meters outside. Customers with outside meters will be notified prior to the replacement or connection of their service lines to the new main.
Visit the Construction Definitions page for more information.
Restoration
The final step in an infrastructure project is to restore the roads, sidewalks, boulevards, and lawns that were impacted by construction. Restoration is typically on site a few weeks after the completion of all other construction. Until then, temporary restoration is done by the utility crews to maintain an area's livability.
For more details visit the Restoration Practices page.
Traffic impacts
Minnetonka Boulevard will be reduced to a single lane of traffic, with flaggers to maintain the flow of traffic. Tonkawood Road will be closed for a short amount of time with a detour in place. Other impacts may include restrictions on street parking, closure of one sidewalk at a time and lane shifts.
Specific traffic impacts will be communicated as they are determined. The utility crews will work with residents to maintain access to their homes.
Additional resources
If you have questions, reach out to CenterPoint Energy's Communication Specialist at 612-542-6198 or una.omeara@centerpointenergy.com.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we replace our infrastructure! We value the privilege of having you as a customer.
