Enbridge Energy officially kicked off its Line 3 Replacement Project virtually in Minnesota on Thursday. Enbridge Energy Communications Supervisor Juli Kellner said they’d normally bring everyone together to celebrate a kickoff, but as it has for many other things in 2020, COVID-19 turned the event virtual. “Normally, for a milestone like that, we’d want to bring everybody together and have a celebration noting the moment, but it’s 2020,” said Kellner. “With COVID restrictions, we decided to bring everybody together virtually to kick off the project. It is a $2.6 billion private investment in upgrading Minnesota’s energy infrastructure. We’re replacing a 60-year-old pipeline with a new line made of new, thicker steel with a more advanced coating. We’ve already replaced the pipeline in Wisconsin up to the Superior Terminal. And the work has already been done in North Dakota along with a much larger stretch in Canada. So now the only portion left to be replaced is the line in Minnesota.”
The pipeline will traverse the width of the state, explained Kellner. “It’s exciting and all about building big, 330 miles in Minnesota,” said Kellner. “We are kicking off from one side of Minnesota all the way to the other. There are multiple crews out on the line right now. We’re in the neighborhood of 1,600-1,800 people who have started working along the right-of-way. Clearing, preparing the area where our construction equipment will be. Once we’re fully up and running, we will have about 4,000 family-sustaining jobs out there, mostly local union men and women.”
A lot of the work will be completed by union workers, and Kellner said they’ll likely be staying, shopping, and eating in local communities. “Work is well underway,” said Kellner. “Our folks are getting work done, and it’s exciting to be out working safely in communities. Our union folks are going to be buying goods and services out in communities. Looking to buy food to go at restaurants. I know that we can’t eat in, but food to go, buying groceries, construction supplies, boots, all those things as we get into winter.”
Safety is always important on construction sites, and COVID has added another layer to major projects’ safety plans. Kellner said the safety plan includes regular screening and testing for all workers with the pipeline. “COVID is certainly on our minds, so we have a COVID Prevention Preparedness Plan,” said Kellner. “Our plan includes regular, repeated COVID-19 testing for every worker. They’re tested on their first day of work, their seventh day of work, and every two weeks thereafter. Everybody reporting for work goes through a health screening daily and temperature screening, then are required to wear a mask and follow strict physical distancing. Then, we’re regularly sanitizing work areas, and we’re expecting everyone to do that same behavior and awareness in communities as well.”
Kellner added that Enbridge wants to work closely and communicate with communities to make the replacement project a success for everyone impacted. “We’re going to be working with communities and in communities focusing on making sure that work is done well, done right,” said Kellner. “And that we are communicating with everybody in the community and hoping to make this a really great experience for everyone.”
