Residents in certain Minneapolis areas can expect to see the final touches on a segment of CenterPoint Energy's natural gas infrastructure upgrade project by the end of this month. According to an announcement from the utility company, its authorized contractor, NPL, is on track to finish replacing a portion of the gas mains along specified streets, with the full scope of this phase wrapping up by May 1. The streets included in this month's work are 28th Avenue N. from Black Oaks Lane N. to Zanzibar Lane N., 29th Avenue N. from Black Oaks Lane N. to Zanzibar Lane N., and Zanzibar Lane N. from 29th Avenue N. to 26th Avenue N. at Dunkirk Lane N.
Once the mains are laid, the project will move forward to quickly begin the transition of inside meters to the outside, starting in late April or early May, as pointed out through a CenterPoint Energy statement. Affected homeowners will be contacted to set up a convenient appointment. A door tag will be left with contact information should the customer not be at home. The switchover is expected to require a two- to three-hour visit from the technician, who will then relight any natural gas appliance pilot lights post-installation.
Before any gas line work starts, residents will receive a postcard detailing the upcoming project, along with a visit from the foreman to schedule the appointment. CenterPoint Energy assures that the crews carry authorized photo IDs for verification. Typically, a natural gas crew works on one block each week, either replacing the service line completely or reconnecting it to the new main, depending on the line’s age. Excavation will take place along the boulevard and outside meters, with holes bored from the gas main to the house for most properties.
As for post-construction restoration, once the natural gas work is completed, immediate efforts to mitigate the impact will be undertaken. Crews will backfill any excavations and lay temporary straw netting to control erosion. However, a permanent fix involving black dirt, grass seed, and netting that degrades over time might take a few additional weeks. Q3 Contracting is tasked to handle this final stage of restoration. CenterPoint Energy requests customers' patience during this period, as outlined in their recent update.
For further details and progress updates, residents and interested parties are encouraged to check CenterPoint Energy's website. Questions and inquiries can be directed to the Communication Specialist at 612-321-5546 or via email to [email protected]. CenterPoint Energy has expressed gratitude for the community's patience as they continue to improve the city's natural gas infrastructure.
