Scheduled Start Date for 40th Street W.: June 21, 2021
Project Resources
- If you contact CenterPoint Energy for any questions, please reference the project's name or numbers 96940266 (Grand Avenue S.), 97075850 or 97405622 (40th Street W.).
What will CenterPoint Energy do?
Grand Avenue S.
Beginning on May 10 and lasting into summer 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Minneapolis along Grand Avenue S. between 48th Street W. and Lake Street W. and along 40th Street W. between Highway 35W and Dupont Avenue S. Michels Corporation will remove an existing natural gas main, install a new natural gas main, and connect natural gas service lines to the new or existing natural gas mains. Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work.
40th Street W.
Beginning on June 21 and lasting into late summer or fall 2021, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Minneapolis along 40th Street W. between Highway 35W and Dupont Avenue S. Michels Corporation will replace two natural gas mains, connect natural gas service lines to the first of the new mains, and move any inside meters to the outside of homes. Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work.
What are the traffic impacts?
Grand Avenue S.
For most of the project’s duration, the crews will maintain two-way traffic on Grand Avenue S. and on the crossing street with a lane shift. On blocks where the crews are working, parking will be restricted on both sides of the road, and one sidewalk will remain open at a time.
The exception will be one full closure on Grand Avenue S. just north of 48th Street W. Detour signs will lead through traffic to 47th Street W., Pleasant Avenue S. and 48th Street W. Within the closure, one sidewalk will remain open at a time. The crews will work with residents on driveway access.
40th Street W.
The first natural gas main is small-diameter plastic that is typically bored underground. Two-way traffic will be maintained on 40th St. W. Some of the cross streets will be closed to through traffic.
The second main is large-diameter steel. Since the crews weld the pieces of the pipe together, the steel main replacement requires open excavation and takes longer to install than the small-diameter plastic main. The crews will fully close several blocks at a time. Closures and openings of the cross streets will alternate. One sidewalk will remain open at a time on 40th St. W. Time spent on each block will vary due to the size of the block, the steel offsets, the restoration preparation, and the weather. Restoration will follow the steel main work.
Local resident access will be maintained. Steel plates will be used as needed for driveway crossings. Parking will be restricted in areas of active construction and may be restricted on the cross streets. When the crews close northbound Lyndale Avenue at 40th St. W., detour signs will lead drivers to 42nd St. W., Nicollet Ave., and 38th St. W. When the crews close a few blocks of 40th St. W. at a time, detour signs will lead drivers to the next block or two over.
What is CenterPoint Energy’s COVID-19 policy?
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 he 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.
