St. Louis Park - Rainbow Park Neighborhood - Project Updates

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are progressing on the project. Michels Corporation finished the project’s natural gas work. This included replacing the natural gas mains, connecting the service lines to the new mains, and moving inside meters outside.

Q3 Contracting is following behind to restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. A crew is restoring the sidewalk, finishing the ones on Minnetonka Boulevard before moving north of Minnetonka Boulevard. Another crew will begin restoring the boulevards and lawns at least one week after the concrete cures.

Although the crews plan to permanently restore the boulevards and lawns, the crews will apply winter erosion control if temperatures aren’t conducive for planting grass. Any holes created by CenterPoint Energy’s crews in boulevards during construction will be backfilled with dirt and protected with matting. In spring, the crews will return to place new black dirt and grass seed in these areas.

Since early September, crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, have been replacing natural gas mains, beginning at Maryland Avenue S. and moving west to Nevada, Oregon, and Pennsylvania Avenues S. Last week, the crew began replacing the gas mains that cross to the south side of Minnetonka Boulevard.

This week, a crew began replacing the natural gas main under the east side of Sumter Avenue S. and along the north side of 29th Street. While they replaced the main on Sumter Avenue S., they anticipate that the main replacement on 29th Street will take approximately three weeks. During this time, parking will be restricted on the north side of 29th Street and the east side of Sumter Avenue S.

Another Michels Corporation crew is connecting the service lines to the new mains and moving inside meters outside. They began on Minnetonka Boulevard between Louisiana and Rhode Island Avenues and are working there in addition to the streets crossing Minnetonka Boulevard.

This week, another Michels Corporation crew began connecting the service lines to the new main and moving inside meters outside on Nevada Avenue between 31st and 32nd Streets W. They anticipate that the service line and meter work on this road will take approximately two weeks, hoping to finish by Friday, September 30. During this time, parking will be restricted on one side at a time of Nevada Avenue S. in this area.

From Monday, August 22 into fall 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in St. Louis Park along select streets between Texas and Louisiana Avenues S. and between 28th and 32nd ½ Streets W. While Michels Corporation will replace the natural gas mains, connect the natural gas service lines to the new mains, and move any inside meters outside, Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. Lane and parking closures may occur.

Along the following streets, Michels Corporation will replace natural gas mains, connect the natural gas service lines to the new mains, and move inside meters outside. This work will begin in the week of August 22: Sumter Avenue S. from 32nd ½ Street W. to Minnetonka Boulevard; Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Nevada Avenues S. from 28th Street W. to Minnetonka Boulevard; Minnetonka Boulevard from Texas to Louisiana Avenues S.; 29th Street W. from Texas to Louisiana Avenues S.; and Maryland Avenue S. from Minnetonka Boulevard to 29th Street W.

Along Quebec, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Nevada Avenues S. from Minnetonka Boulevard to 32nd Street W., Michels Corporation will only connect natural gas service lines to mains and move inside meters outside. This work will begin on Tuesday, August 16. The crew will begin on Quebec Avenue S., working south from Minnetonka Boulevard.

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.