Construction is underway on a controversial $450 million pipeline project in northern Wisconsin, as Enbridge moves forward with its long-planned Line 5 reroute despite ongoing legal opposition and environmental concerns.
.webp)
Crews began clearing trees in late February for a new 41-mile segment of the Line 5 oil and gas pipeline, marking a significant milestone for the project that has been debated for years. The Canadian energy company initiated work after receiving approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and successfully defending its state permits in court.
The reroute project was first proposed six years ago after the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa filed a lawsuit seeking to remove the existing pipeline from tribal lands due to concerns about potential environmental damage. The new route will pass through Ashland and Iron counties and includes a substantial right-of-way footprint.
According to Enbridge, approximately 100 workers are currently engaged in early-stage activities, including route staking, timber clearing and environmental monitoring. The company expects the workforce to expand significantly, with peak construction employing up to 700 workers.
The project involves complex environmental and engineering considerations, as the pipeline is expected to cross 186 waterways and impact roughly 101 acres of wetlands. Despite these challenges, Enbridge maintains the reroute is essential to maintaining energy supply reliability across the Midwest.
The Line 5 pipeline currently transports about 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids daily from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario. Company officials warn that shutting down the pipeline without a replacement could lead to major economic disruptions, including increased propane prices and billions of dollars in losses across the region.
Opposition to the project remains strong among Indigenous groups and environmental advocates, who argue the reroute poses significant risks to natural resources and cultural heritage.
Earthjustice, representing the Bad River Band, has filed a legal challenge asking the Iron County Circuit Court to overturn state permits issued for the project. The group contends that regulators failed to adequately protect wetlands and waterways.
“The pipeline goes against laws meant to protect water resources in perpetuity,” said John Petoskey, an attorney with Earthjustice.
.webp)
Tribal members have also raised concerns about the impact on traditional resources, including wild rice—known as “manoomin”—and medicinal plants found along the Mashkiiziibii, or “Medicine River.” These resources are considered vital to the cultural and ecological health of the region.
While legal challenges continue, a federal judge recently paused an earlier order that would have required shutting down the existing pipeline, allowing additional time for the reroute project to proceed.
Enbridge has indicated it expects construction to continue through legal proceedings, with a target completion date of April 2027.
The Line 5 reroute highlights the ongoing tension between energy infrastructure development and environmental and tribal rights, a balance that continues to shape major construction projects across North America.
This article is based on reporting by Daniel Onyango, originally published in Pipeline Technology Journal.
Source: https://www.pipeline-journal.net/news/enbridge-begins-construction-controversial-line-5-pipeline-reroute-wisconsin
.png)
