tunnelling-journal (1)
tunnelling-journal (1)
  • Home
  • Print
    • Subscribe
    • Tunnelling Journal
    • Breakthrough
    • ITA Activity Report
    • A&NZ Journal
    • WTC Preview
    • Media Kit
  • Digital
    • Newsletter
    • E-Shots
    • TJ Digital edition
    • Products Page
    • Media Kit
  • Conferences
    • BTS Conference and Exhibition
    • Cutting Edge 2022
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • Events Diary
  • Jobs
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Podcast

Home > Enbridge offers immediate start on Great Lakes tunnel

Enbridge offers immediate start on Great Lakes tunnel

Amanda Foley

Written by Amanda Foley on 04/06/2019 in News

Tagged:

MackinacStraight Bridge

MackinacStraight Bridge

On May 30, energy giant Enbridge responded to demands from Michigan officials to expedite the shutdown of its existing Line 5 pipeline beneath a crucial Great Lakes channel by announcing it could complete the construction of a proposed oil pipeline tunnel by early 2024, shaving years off previous estimates.

The Canadian company sent Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer a revised timeline for drilling the $500 million tunnel through bedrock beneath the Straits of Mackinac, the 4-mile-wide (6.4km-wide) channel linking Lakes Huron and Michigan.

Enbridge said in its statement that geotechnical site investigation activities are due begin imminently, with ‘increasing commitments to contractors’ ramping up over the summer months. The company’s timeline sees a design/build contract for the tunnel awarded next year shortly followed by TBM procurement. Tunnel construction could start as soon as 2021, with two years scheduled for excavation – through bedrock 100ft (30m) below the straits –at an anticipated average of 40ft (12m) per day.

“Enbridge is fully prepared to proceed with the 2019 program, necessary permitting and construction of the tunnel, but it is awaiting the State’s decision on supporting that path forward,” said the statement. The company had originally said it could take seven to 10 years to build the tunnel, as part of a deal negotiated with Michigan’s former Republican governor, Rick Snyder, last year.

The statement came in response to comments made by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who said she would act by the end of June to shut Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline if the company and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hadn’t reached an agreement on the tunnel by then.

“Every day that Line 5 continues to operate is a day that our state is in great peril and that we could possibly see what could be the largest oil spill in American history,” Nessel said at a press conference on May 29. There are several legal mechanisms Nessel’s office could use to close the pipeline, she said.

The aging Line 5 pipeline transports about 23 million gallons of light crude oil and natural gas liquids per day through the Upper Peninsula, including the 4-mile stretch through the Straits of Mackinac.

In late March, Nessel in a formal legal opinion declared unconstitutional the law passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature last December creating an authority to oversee construction of a tunnel to house Line 5 and other utilities. She argued the law was invalid “because its provisions go beyond the scope of what was disclosed in its title.”

Whitmer quickly ordered state agencies to halt their work on the project based on Nessel’s opinion.

Enbridge’s statement responded: “Enbridge has committed to construct the tunnel as quickly as prudently possible and to advance a number of additional protective measures while we construct the tunnel. Given the Attorney General’s opinion that the previous administration tunnel authority is invalid, Enbridge engaged and has continued to engage the State about alternatives to address that concern.”

Comments:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Digital Edition

More Like This

19/11/2022

HCC breaks through on Delhi Metro Phase 4

HCC breaks through on Delhi Metro Phase 4

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and contactor HCC have achieved a major construction milestone on Phase 4 of the…

30/01/2023

LTA Awards Final Cross Island Line-Punggol civil contract

LTA Awards Final Cross Island Line-Punggol civil contract

The Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the final civil contract for the design and construction of Elias station…

08/03/2023

Macau’s first EPBM breaks through

Macau’s first EPBM breaks through

February 20th, 2023 saw Macau’s first small diameter EPBM “CREC 1076” breaking through, laying a solid foundation for the timely…

  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Magazine Archive

Newsletter

The latest from the Tunneling Journal direct to your inbox.

Social



Enquiries

TGS Media Ltd
The Old Library
Webster House
Dudley Road
Tunbridge Wells
TN1 1LE
United Kingdom

© Tunnelling Journal. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. Admin

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more