Enbridge Begins Line 5 Reroute Work in Wisconsin Amid Ongoing Legal Challenges

Enbridge has begun construction on its Line 5 reroute in northern Wisconsin, advancing the project despite ongoing legal challenges and environmental concerns.

(P&GJ) — Enbridge has begun early construction work on its proposed Line 5 reroute in northern Wisconsin, advancing the long-contested project following years of regulatory review and legal disputes, according to reporting by the Mining Journal.

Crews started clearing trees and preparing the right-of-way along the planned 41-mile route in Ashland and Iron counties after key state and federal permits were upheld. The reroute is intended to move a segment of the aging Line 5 pipeline off tribal land, where the Bad River Band has sought to shut down operations due to spill concerns.

RELATED: U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Whitmer Challenge to Enbridge Line 5

The project includes installation of new pipeline segments and supporting infrastructure, while also involving work across numerous waterways and wetlands. Regulators have said most environmental impacts would be temporary, though some longer-term effects are expected in sensitive areas.

Line 5 transports up to 23 million gallons per day of crude oil and natural gas liquids from Superior, Wisconsin, through Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario, supplying refineries and fuel markets across the U.S. Midwest and Canada. Enbridge maintains the reroute is critical to maintaining energy supply reliability, while also addressing legal requirements tied to tribal land use, as reported by the Mining Journal.

Despite construction moving forward, the project remains subject to ongoing legal challenges from tribal groups and environmental organizations seeking to overturn permits and halt work. A court decision on whether construction can proceed is expected in the coming months, adding continued uncertainty to the project’s timeline.