Minneapolis - Hale Neighborhood - Project Updates

CenterPoint Energy’s work is nearly complete in the Hale Neighborhood with work from its authorized contractors.

Crews from Michels Corporation finished replacing the natural gas steel main along the project’s route.

In December, the crews installed regulator piping at the corner of 17th Avenue S. and Lake Nokomis Parkway. In February, CenterPoint Energy regulator mechanics will be replacing the regulator with a different model. The duration of the work should be a few hours. During this time, there will be no parking restrictions or digging. The flow of natural gas into customers’ houses will not be interrupted.

This spring, Q3 Contracting plans to return for permanent restoration in a few areas throughout the project’s route, since some areas received temporary asphalt on previously concrete surfaces, and some boulevards received winter erosion control. The following areas will receive permanent concrete: 58th Street E. near Cedar Avenue; 17th Avenue S. from 52nd to 53rd Streets E.; and 15th Avenue S. at 58th Street E.

We appreciate your patience as we upgraded our natural gas infrastructure.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors, Michels Corporation and Q3 Contracting, are continuing to work in the Hale Neighborhood. In the weeks of December 4 and 11, please expect the following traffic plans:

The crew will close 17th Avenue S. between 52nd Street E. and Nokomis Parkway with parking restricted on both sides.

The crew will close 53rd Street E. from Bloomington Avenue to 60 feet east of the intersection, with parking restricted on both sides of 53rd Street E. up to 60 feet east of the intersection.

The crew is currently working along the north side of Edgewater Boulevard at the intersection of Nokomis Lane within a lane shift, with parking restricted on both sides of Edgewater Boulevard 150 feet east of the intersection and the south side of Edgewater Boulevard 50 feet west of the intersection.

From Monday, December 11 to Friday, December 22, please expect the following traffic plan: The crew plans to alternate two closures while they are installing the new steel main and removing the existing steel main. One closure will be the frontage road of Cedar Avenue S. between Bloomington Avenue S. and 58th Street E. (The 5-8 Club will remain accessible from the south.) The other closure will be 58th Street E. from 18th Avenue S. to the frontage road of Cedar Avenue S.

The restoration crew plans to restore these affected areas before December 22. Since the restoration will be temporary due to weather, permanent restoration will happen in early 2024.

On Wednesday, November 22, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, plans to open 58th Street E. from 12th to 16th Avenues S.

In the weeks of Monday, November 27 and Monday, December 4, the crew plans to close 58th Street E. between Cedar Avenue S. and 16th Avenue S. This closure will include the replacement of the natural gas steel main and the restoration of the road to be reopened for traffic.

During this time, the detour route will lead drivers to 16th Avenue S., Nokomis Lane, Edgewater Boulevard, and Cedar Avenue S. The sidewalk on 58th Street E. will remain open, and the trail at 58th Street E. and 18th Avenue S. will remain open.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors, Michels Corporation and Q3 Contracting, will continue to work into November and December for the third of four CenterPoint Energy natural gas line replacement projects in the Hale Neighborhood in 2023.

The crews reopened 17th Avenue S. between 49th and 51st Streets E.

On approximately Monday, November 20, Bloomington Avenue will open from 52nd to 54th Streets E. The timeline depends on when the road will be paved.

In late November or early December, the crews plan to open 58th Street E. between 12th and 18th Avenues S. and 52nd Street E. between Bloomington Avenue and 17th Avenue S.

Into mid-December, the gas crew will replace the main along 58th Street E. from 15th Avenue S. to Cedar Avenue S. and along 53rd Street E. from Bloomington Avenue S. to 14th Avenue S.

Into late December, Q3 Contracting has been and will continue to put down temporary winter restoration on the affected areas. For the soft surfaces, the crews have been putting down a winter erosion control blanket. For the hard surfaces, the crews have been pouring temporary asphalt. In 2024, they will return for permanent restoration.

Crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, have been replacing the natural gas steel main in the Hale Neighborhood. Below is the anticipated schedule for the next month:

Currently, 17th Avenue S. is closed from 49th Street E. to 51st Street E. until the middle of the week of November 6, and Bloomington Avenue is closed from 52nd to 53rd Streets E. until the middle of the week of November 13. During this time, the intersections will be open to cross traffic except at Bloomington Avenue and 53rd Street E.

In the week of October 30, the following areas will have closures to through traffic for approximately two weeks: the intersection of 17th Avenue S. and 50th Street E.; 52nd Street E. between Bloomington Avenue and 16th Avenue S.; and the intersection of Bloomington Avenue and 52nd Street E.

From late in the week of October 30 into the middle of the week of November 20, the crews are planning to close 53rd Street E. from 14th Avenue S. to Bloomington Avenue.

From late in the week of October 30 into the first week of December, the crews are planning to close 58th Street E. from Cedar Avenue to 12th Avenue S.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are continuing to replace the natural gas steel main in the Hale Neighborhood.

In the following intersections where the gas crews put the existing natural gas mains out of service, there is temporary asphalt, and the intersections are reopened. Later this fall, the crews will return for the installation of the new natural gas steel mains:

53rd St. E. and 14th Ave. S.; 52nd St. E. and Bloomington Ave. S.; 52nd St. E. and 17th Ave. S.; 58th St. E. and Cedar Ave. S.; 52nd St. E. and 18th Ave. S.; and 17th Ave. S. and 50th St. E.

For the weeks of October 16 and 23, the crew has closed the intersection of 17th Avenue S. and 49th Street E., in addition to 17th Avenue S. just north of 50th Street E. During this time, they are installing a natural gas steel main and a natural gas vault. The intersection of 50th Street E. and 17th Avenue S. is open during this time. This intersection is planned to have a closure in late October. More details will be provided.

Crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, are continuing to replace the natural gas steel main running throughout the Hale Neighborhood. Below are the three crews’ plans for October:

For the next two weeks starting on Monday, October 2, the first crew will replace the natural gas main on 54th Street E. between 15th Avenue S. and Bloomington Ave S. During this time, the road will be closed to through traffic, and detour signs will direct through traffic to nearby blocks.

For the next two weeks starting on Monday, October 2, the second crew will replace portions of the steel main and put the existing steel main out of service. During this time, they will work in eight different areas at once. Any closure to through traffic will consist of one block.

The crews will work in the following locations: south of Minnehaha Parkway at 17th Ave. S. in the park; north of 49th St. W. at 17th Ave. S. in the park; 27th St. E. and Bloomington Ave. S.; 53rd St. E. and 14th Ave. S.; 52nd St. E. and 17th Ave. S.; 52nd St. E. and Bloomington Ave. S.; Cedar Ave. and 58th St. E.; and 15th Ave. S. and 58th St. E.

Until Wednesday, October 18, the crew has closed 54th Street E. to through traffic from 14th Avenue S. to Bloomington Avenue S. to replace the natural gas steel main and to pave the road.

From Wednesday, October 4 to Sunday, October 22, the crew will extend the closure of 54th Street E. from 15th Avenue S. through the intersection of Bloomington Avenue S. and work north on Bloomington Avenue S.

The crews will work with residents to access their homes. While flaggers will be on Bloomington Avenue S. during business hours, the crews will set up traffic barriers to allow two-way traffic after business hours.

Please note that another CenterPoint Energy gas line replacement project is happening in the Diamond Lake Neighborhood on select streets between 54th and 59th Streets E. and between 12th Avenue S. and Edgewater Boulevard. We appreciate your patience tremendously.

This fall, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will begin a fourth project in the Hale Neighborhood. The project will last from September into late October or early November, pause for winter, and resume in 2024. Check out the project’s home page for more details.

Early October: A crew from Michels Corporation has been moving inside meters outside by appointment and replacing some natural gas service lines on 12th Avenue S. In approximately three weeks, they plan to finish their work between 54th and 59th Streets E. During this time, there are no road or sidewalk closures.

Mid-October: For approximately one week, a Michels Corporation crew will work on 54th Street E. between 12th and 14th Avenues S. They will replace a natural gas main, move inside meters outside by appointment, and replace and/or reconnect the service lines to the new main. During this time, they will have lane, sidewalk, and parking closures while keeping two-way traffic. If one sidewalk is closed, the other stays open. When they connect the new main to the existing intersecting mains along 12th and 13th Avenues S., they may close these blocks one at a time between 54th and 55th Streets E.

Mid- and late October: A Michels Corporation crew will move inside meters outside by appointment and replace some natural gas service lines on 13th Avenue S. between 54th and 58th Streets E. During this time, there may be parking and sidewalk closures.

For the remaining half of the month of September, below is an update on the natural gas line replacement project in the Hale Neighborhood with work by CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors:

Michels Corporation is replacing the natural gas main on 15th Avenue S. between 56th and 58th Streets E. They anticipate that the main replacement and the paving of the road should be finished by Friday, September 29.

On Monday, September 18, Michels Corporation plans to begin replacing the main on 55th Street E. between Edgewater Boulevard and 54th Street E. For approximately 5 to 6 weeks, they will close this to through traffic. This timeline includes paving. During this time, the sidewalks will remain open.

Q3 Contracting is following to restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. The City of Minneapolis will follow Q3 Contracting to pave the final layer on the affected roads.

Last week, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, finished replacing a portion of the project’s natural gas lines. This included moving inside meters outside on 15th Avenue S. between 55th and 58th Streets E. and replacing and/or reconnecting the service lines to the new small-diameter plastic main. In the following weeks, Q3, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized restoration contractor, will be restoring the sidewalk panels, pedestrian ramps, and blacktop patching in the road. Thank you for your patience during this construction season.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors have been or will begin working with the following details:

In the week of August 28, Michels Corporation will close the intersection of 57th Street E. and 15th Avenue S. to replace the natural gas steel main. Traffic will be closed in all four directions in this area. The other closure on 15th Avenue S. will remain in place between 56th and 58th Streets E. for the next few weeks.

Q3 Contracting plans to follow closely behind Michels Corporation to restore and reopen each block, beginning with the 5700 block first. We thank you for your patience as we work as efficiently as we can.

On Wednesday, August 16, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will begin replacing the project’s large-diameter natural gas steel main on 15th Avenue S. between 58th and 56th Streets E. They anticipate replacing the main here for 3 to 4 weeks.

During this time, they will close this road to through traffic and leave 57th Street E. open to traffic. Residential access will remain open. Steel plates may be used for driveway crossings. Unless otherwise noted, they plan to leave both sidewalks open.

From mid-August to late September, the crew plans to replace the steel main on the following streets: 15th Avenue S., 55th Street E., Edgewater Boulevard, 54th Street E., and Bloomington Avenue S.

From early October to mid-November, the crew plans to replace the remaining steel main footage on 17th Avenue S. and on 52nd Street E.

In the middle of fall 2023 at a time that is to be determined, a separate crew will replace the steel main on 58th Street E. between 14th Avenue S. and Cedar Avenue S.

From Monday, August 14 into this fall, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, Michels Corporation, will replace a large-diameter natural gas steel main on select streets in the Hale Neighborhood.

During this time, a few blocks will be closed for a few weeks at a time. Residential access will be maintained. Steel plates may be used for driveway crossings. The crews plan to maintain two-way traffic on Bloomington Avenue S.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, Q3 Contracting, will follow behind the gas crews to permanently restore the affected areas. Although we plan to permanently restore everything this year, if the weather is not conducive for permanent restoration in the late fall, Q3 Contracting will put temporary asphalt on the hard surfaces and erosion control blankets on boulevards and lawns. They will return in the spring for permanent restoration.

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are finishing the first of two CenterPoint Energy projects in the Hale Neighborhood. While Michels Corporation finished replacing all the project’s natural gas lines, including the mains, service lines, and meters, Q3 Contracting is currently restoring the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work.

This week, they plan to finish restoring the concrete surfaces. Within the next couple of weeks, they plan to finish the blacktop surfaces. Within the next 2 to 3 weeks, they plan to finish the soft surfaces.

On boulevards and lawns, they will refill the areas with black dirt, grass seed, and netting that degrades over about four months. Prior to mowing the restored area, please remove any loose staples that secured the blanket.

In late June, a Michels Corporation crew replaced the mains for the second CenterPoint Energy project in the Hale Neighborhood.

Another Michels Corporation crew has been moving inside meters outside by appointment and replacing and/or reconnecting the service lines to the new main. They are on the 5000 block of 17th Avenue S., working north. In the week of July 17, they plan to begin work on the 4900 block.

As the service crew finishes a block, they put temporary backfill on the excavations. In several weeks, Q3 Contracting plans to come for permanent restoration.

We appreciate your patience tremendously as we upgrade our natural gas lines!

CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors are progressing in their work in the Hale Neighborhood. A crew from Michels Corporation plans to finish replacing the gas lines on 52nd Street E. between Chicago and Bloomington Avenues by the end of this week or the week of June 5. A crew from Q3 Contracting plans to restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work, beginning in approximately two or three weeks. The crews will restore the hard surfaces before the soft surfaces.

Beginning in mid-June, a Michels Corporation crew will begin the second CenterPoint Energy project in the Hale Neighborhood, working on select streets west of Lake Nokomis. (See our map for reference.) They will begin by boring the main under the east sidewalk of 17th Avenue S. from 49th to 52nd Streets E. They anticipate that the main replacement in this area will take approximately one week.

At a timing to be determined, another Michels Corporation crew will come to move inside meters outside by appointment and to replace or reconnect the service lines to the new main.

Parking, lane, and sidewalk restrictions may occur on the side of the road where the crews are working.

In between the main and service line/meter crews, please expect traffic barriers over any excavations. After the service line/meter crew is done, residents may see temporary backfill on the excavations before the restoration crew arrives.

Please expect several weeks’ timeframe after the service line and meter work for yards and sidewalks to be restored. We thank you for your patience!

This week, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will begin replacing the natural gas main under the north sidewalk of 52nd Street E. between 13th Ave S and Bloomington Ave S. They anticipate that the main replacement on this road will take approximately three weeks. During this time, parking will be restricted on both sides of 52nd Street E. in this area. The north sidewalk on 52nd Street E. will be closed.

In the weeks of May 8 and 15, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will replace the natural gas main under the north sidewalk of 52nd Street E. between Chicago Avenue S. and 14th Avenue S. During this time, parking will be restricted on the north side of 52nd Street E. in this area, in addition to the north sidewalk.

On Thursday, May 4, a crew from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, will begin replacing the natural gas main under the north sidewalk of 52nd Street E. between Chicago and Bloomington Avenues S. They anticipate that the main replacement (in addition to the service line and meter work) on this road will take approximately six weeks. They are starting at Chicago Avenue S., working east.

During this time, parking will be restricted on the north side of 52nd Street E. in this area. The crew will have a closure at each intersection between Chicago and Bloomington Avenues S. At one or a few intersections at a time, drivers will be unable to turn from 52nd Street E. onto these intersections. These interruptions will last for approximately one day each.

From spring to fall 2023, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will perform work in the Hale Neighborhood in Minneapolis. Equix Integrity will update our records on the locations of sewer lines in relation to natural gas lines. Michels Corporation will replace natural gas mains, move inside meters to the outside of homes, and replace or reconnect service lines as needed. Q3 Contracting will restore the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. There will be no assessment or cost associated with our work.