Get ready for the roar of machinery and the dance of the construction crews, in Minneapolis. Starting early August, according to a bulletin from CenterPoint Energy, the Bryn Mawr neighborhood will see the start of natural gas main installations along several key streets, promising to modernize the energy infrastructure but testing the community's tolerance for inconvenience.
Michels Corporation, a contractor authorized by CenterPoint Energy, will kick off its operations on Upton Avenue N., between Wayzata Boulevard and Chestnut Avenue. The area will see parking restrictions on both sides of the street and a shuttering of the east sidewalk. Over the span of approximately seven weeks, the crews plan to install new mains under east sidewalks of a list of streets that includes Chestnut Avenue W., Thomas Avenue S., Sheridan Avenue S., Russell Avenue S., and Queen Avenue S., as stated in a recent update. A decision on additional installations on Washburn Avenue N. and Vincent Avenue N. will follow in the coming weeks.
Disruptions aside, the long-term benefits are clear: a more reliable supply of natural gas and presumably, a more resilient energy system, though some users might wonder what took so long. Parking will be closed on both sides of the roads during the installations, and it's business as usual concerning pedestrian traffic, with the west sidewalks remaining accessible throughout.
For those with questions about the schedule of meter and service line work on their properties, CenterPoint anticipates that information will trickle down sometime in August. "We thank you for your patience," says a line from the CenterPoint Energy bulletin. Residents seeking updates or needing more details are pointed towards the company's website, or they can reach out directly to the Communication Specialist at 612-321-5546. So as the drills whir and the pipes are laid, Minneapolis braces itself for a more secure energy future — just so long as everyone can keep up with the detours.
