Orono - Shoreline Drive - Project Updates

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, finished the project’s natural gas work. This included replacing the mains, connecting the service lines to the new mains, connecting the new mains to the intersecting existing ones, and putting the existing mains out of service.

Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. On any excavations in boulevards and lawns, they will backfill with dirt and netting. In spring 2022, they will return with black dirt and seed.

We appreciate your patience as we upgrade our natural gas lines, ensuring system reliability for years to come.

This week, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, plans to finish the natural gas work on Shoreline Drive and Bracketts Point Road. This work includes replacing the natural gas mains and connecting the service lines to the new mains. They are continuing to work between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. They will remove their equipment in the week of November 1.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, replaced the project’s natural gas mains and connected the service lines to these new mains on Railroad Avenue and Spates Avenue. They will begin the main replacements and service line connections on Shoreline Drive, working toward Bracketts Point Road. Flaggers are on site between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. helping direct traffic. They plan to finish the project’s natural gas work in late October.

Beginning in the week of October 4 and lasting into November 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Orono along the following streets: Shoreline Drive from Spates Avenue to Bracketts Point Road; Spates Avenue from Railroad Avenue to Shoreline Drive; Railroad Avenue from North Shore Drive to Spates Avenue; and Bracketts Point Road from Shoreline Drive to 1435 Bracketts Point Road.

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. Flaggers will be on site to help direct traffic.

The construction crews and personnel will continue to use the Covid-19 Customer Permission Flyer, which requests customer permission prior to entering homes. Personnel, contractors and CenterPoint Energy employees will continue to practice CDC guidelines regarding social distancing, sanitary practices and wearing face masks when entering customer homes.

The customer will receive a CenterPoint Energy postcard in the mail typically within one or two weeks prior to the day when the Michels Corporation crews will perform the work. The crews will have CenterPoint Energy-authorized photo IDs stating that they are employees of Michels Corporation.

After the customer receives the postcard, the foreman 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 arrives, he will leave a door tag with his contact information to schedule an appointment with him.

Customers are advised to set aside a two- to four-hour time frame for the inside-to-outside gas meter move. They are also advised to mark their privately-installed utilities such as dog fences or sprinklers. Marking can be accomplished with tools such as spray paint or utility flags. The foreman 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.

Customers with outside meters will be notified prior to the replacement or connection of the service lines to the new mains. Areas affected by our work will be restored to their original condition.

On the soft surfaces such as boulevards and lawns, various erosion control measures keep the restored area moist, hold seed in the soil, and enhance seed germination. If an erosion blanket is needed it is secured in place with staples. The mesh is a wood fiber that will completely degrade. Prior to mowing the restored area, remove any loose staples that secured the blanket.