11/18/2021

A crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, is connecting the natural gas service lines to the new main on Aldrich Avenue S. between 26th and 27th Streets and on 27th Street between Aldrich and Garfield Avenues S. before moving to Garfield Avenue S. between 27th and 28th Streets. They are continuing to work east, following the main crew’s route.


CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are finishing the 2021 portion of the project’s work. A crew from NPL finished the natural gas work on Hampshire Avenue S., 16th Street W. and 18th Street W. This included replacing the mains, connecting the service lines to the new mains, and moving any inside meters outside.


On these streets, Q3 Contracting permanently restored most of these areas affected by NPL’s work. Near Wayzata Boulevard, the hard and soft surfaces will have winter erosion control. The hard surfaces will have temporary asphalt, including those that were previously concrete. In spring 2022, the crews will restore them to their original condition. On any excavations in boulevards and lawns, they will backfill with dirt and place netting over these areas. In spring 2022, they will return with black dirt and seed.


On Idaho Avenue S., NPL put the new main in the ground. In spring 2022, they will return to activate the new main with natural gas and to connect the service lines to the new main.


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

10/15/2021

A crew from NPL, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, are connecting the service lines to the new mains on Hampshire Avenue S., 16th Street W. and 18th Street W. They are also replacing the main on Idaho Avenue S. between 18th and 22nd Streets W. The crews are calling in restoration orders for Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, to begin restoring behind NPL’s crew.

10/4/2021

The crew has replaced the natural gas mains on Hampshire Avenue S. from Cedar Lake Road to Wayzata Boulevard and on 16th and 18th Streets W. at Hampshire Avenue S. This week on Tuesday, October 5 or Wednesday, October 6, the crew will begin connecting the service lines to the new mains. They will start on 16th and 18th Streets W. and then on Hampshire Avenue S. at Cedar Lake Road, working north to Wayzata Boulevard. On October 5, they will also begin replacing the main on Idaho Avenue S.


The crew will close 18th Street W. at Idaho Avenue S. for a few hours during one business day. Although they are planning to close 18th Street W. this week, another update will be sent with the closure’s date.

9/30/2021

A crew from NPL, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, replaced the natural gas main on Hampshire Avenue S. between Cedar Lake Road and 14th Street W. and on 16th and 18th Streets W. just east of Hampshire Avenue S.


This week and early into the week of October 4, they will perform the following actions: Replace the main on Idaho Avenue S. between 22nd and 16th Streets W.; connect the new mains to the existing intersecting mains; and activate the new mains with natural gas.


In the week of October 4, they will begin connecting the natural gas service lines to the new mains.

9/29/2021

Correction: A crew from NPL, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, replaced the natural gas main on Hampshire Avenue S. between Cedar Lake Road and 14th Street W. and on 16th and 18th Streets W. just east of Hampshire Avenue S. This week, they are activating the new mains with natural gas. In the week of October 4, they will begin connecting the natural gas service lines to the new mains.

9/21/2021

A crew from NPL, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, has been replacing the project’s natural gas main, connecting the service lines to this new main, and putting the existing natural gas mains out of service. Last week they finished the gas work on Hampshire Avenue S. from Cedar Lake Road to 16th Street W. This week they are working on 16th and 18th Streets W. at Hampshire Avenue S. Parking will be restricted wherever the crews are working.

9/17/2021

A crew from NPL, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, began replacing the project’s natural gas main on the east side of Hampshire Avenue S., working from Cedar Lake Road to 14th Street W. When the main is replaced on Hampshire Avenue S., the crew will begin connecting the natural gas service lines to the new main.


The next step in the construction phase is replacing the main on Idaho Avenue S. Then the crews will connect the service lines to the new main.


During this time, traffic will remain open, but parking will be closed wherever the crews are working. The crews estimate that the project’s natural gas work will last from three to four weeks.

What will CenterPoint Energy do?

Beginning in mid-September and lasting into October or November 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in St. Louis Park along the following roads: Hampshire Avenue S. from Cedar Lake Road to 1360 Hampshire Avenue S.; Idaho Avenue S. from 16th to 22nd Streets W.; 18th Street W. from Hampshire to Georgia Avenues S.; and the cul-de-sac of 16th Street W. east of Hampshire Avenue S.


While NPL will replace 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 NPL’s work. During this time, lane and parking closures may occur. For a limited time, the crews will close Idaho Avenue S. in front of 1840 and 1837 Idaho Avenue S. During this time, the crews will help residents maintain local access. Through traffic will be detoured to 18th Street W., Jersey Avenue S., and 22nd Street W.

What is CenterPoint Energy’s COVID-19 protocol?

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.

What if I have an inside gas meter?

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.

What should I expect during restoration?

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.