Enbridge planning to replace pipeline under the river

Enbridge Pipelines is working on a plan to replace a section of oil pipeline under the St. Clair River. Line 5 is a 1,000-kilometre pipeline that carries Western Canadian crude from Wisconsin to refineries in Sarnia.

Enbridge Pipelines is working on a plan to replace a section of oil pipeline under the St. Clair River.

Line 5 is a 1,000-kilometre pipeline that carries Western Canadian crude from Wisconsin to refineries in Sarnia. It crosses the river from Marysville, Michigan into Canada just north of LaSalle Line at Froomfield.

Enbridge said it plans to use directional drilling to install a new section of pipeline beneath the river. Once complete, oil will be removed from the old Line 5, which will be capped and decommissioned, the company said.

Landowners and residents in the impacted work area have been notified.

Enbridge said it hopes construction will begin in 2019, with the new segment crossing the river in operation by early 2020.