St. Louis Park - Division Street - Project Updates

This fall, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, Michels Corporation, replaced the project’s natural gas mains. Due to the availability of supplies and the crew’s progress on other CenterPoint Energy jobs, Michels Corporation plans to connect the service lines to the new mains in spring 2022.

By November 15, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, Q3 Contracting, will temporarily restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. On the streets and sidewalks, bituminous patches will be laid. On boulevards and lawns, black dirt and seed will be laid. In spring 2022, permanent restoration will follow the final natural gas work. Q3 Contracting will restore the disturbed areas to their original condition.

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, replaced the project’s natural gas mains and have moved off the site. Another Michels Corporation will come on site to connect the natural gas service lines to the new mains. More information will be provided closer to that portion of the project’s timeline.

Today on Friday, September 17, a crew from Michels Corporation began replacing the project’s natural gas main on the odd-numbered side of Quebec Avenue S. from Lake Street to the frontage road.

Tomorrow on Saturday, September 18, the crews will replace the main on the even-numbered side of Division Street from Quebec Street to Texas Avenue between the weekend construction hours of 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

In the week of September 20, they will replace the main on the odd-numbered side of Rhode Island Avenue S. from north of Division Street to the frontage road. They anticipate finishing the main replacements by Wednesday, September 22.

Parking restrictions will remain in areas where the crews are working. Following the main replacements, another Michels Corporation crew will connect the service lines to the new mains.

Beginning on September 17 and lasting into fall 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in St. Louis Park along the following streets: Division Street between Texas and Quebec Avenues; Texas Avenue from north of Division Street to Cambridge Street; Rhode Island Avenue N. between Highway 7 and Division Street; and Quebec Avenue S. from Highway 7 to just north of Lake Street W.

While Michels Corporation will replace the natural gas mains, connect the natural gas service lines to the new mains, and move any inside residential meters outside, Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. During this time, lane or parking closures may occur.

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.