Crystal - Sunnyview Park Neighborhood - Project Updates

On Friday, April 8, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, began replacing the project’s natural gas mains. On Monday, April 18, they plan to finish replacing the mains. They are currently working throughout the project’s routes to connect the new mains to the existing intersecting mains. When they are done with their work, they will backfill the areas they excavated and/or place steel plates or traffic signs over these areas.

At a later time that is to be determined, another Michels Corporation crew will begin connecting the service lines to the new mains and moving inside meters outside. Until this crew areas, the excavated areas will remain backfilled and/or protected with steel plates or traffic signs.

From Monday, April 4 into late April or early May 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work along select streets in Crystal’s Sunnyview Park neighborhood. 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 outside the limits of the City of Crystal’s 2022 Utility Reconstruction.

In areas of active construction, the crews may put parking, lane, and/or sidewalk restrictions. Along the following streets, the crews plan to set up closures to through traffic: 30th Avenue N. from Florida to Edgewater Avenues N.; 29th Avenue N. from Edgewater Avenue N. to Douglas Drive N.; and 30th Avenue N. from Edgewater Avenue N. to Douglas Drive N.

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.