Long Prairie - West of Venewitz Creek - Project Updates

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are finishing the 2021 portion of the project. A crew from Michels Corporation finished replacing the project’s natural gas lines. This included the mains, service lines, and meters.

A crew from Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will put down winter erosion control on the areas affected by construction. 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.

We wish you a safe holiday season!

On Monday, November 29, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, began connecting the project’s natural gas service lines to the new mains. The crew anticipates that all the service line work will take a couple of weeks to finish. During this time, no traffic restrictions are anticipated.

A crew from Q3 Contracting, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will put down winter erosion control on the areas affected by construction. 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.

By tomorrow on Friday, November 19, the crew will have finished replacing the project’s natural gas mains. Access to all roads and alleys are clear. In the week of November 29 after Thanksgiving, another Michels Corporation crew will begin connecting the service lines to the new mains.

This fall 2021 and spring 2022, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Long Prairie along the following streets: the alley from 5th to 3rd Streets SW between 1st and 2nd Avenues SW; 2nd Avenue SW from 5th to 6th Streets SW; 3rd Avenue SW from 1st to 6th Streets SW; 5th Street SW from 2nd Avenue SW to the alley between 1st and 2nd Avenues SW; 3rd Street SW from 1st to 2nd Avenues SW; and 1st Street SW from 1st to 3rd Avenues SW.

This November and December, 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. Parking, lane, sidewalk, and alley closures may occur. The crews will work with residents on maintaining access.

Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. This fall, they will temporarily restore the affected areas with winter erosion control. The boulevard will be backfilled with dirt and protected with straw matting. In spring 2022, they will return for permanent restoration.

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.

A crew from Q3 Contracting will put down winter erosion control on the areas affected by construction. 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 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.