Enbridge crews begin restoration work

Work on the new Enbridge pipeline in St. Clair County is complete.

Crews remain in the area to complete land restoration, which will continue until winter, said Jason Manshum, an Enbridge spokesman.

Restoration crews have already made it to Melissa Woodman's house, who lives on Lost Deer Lane in St. Clair Township, near the Enbridge pipeline.

"They came through our side yard but have already started to reseed," Woodman said. "They are putting everything back exactly how it was."

Woodman said the Enbridge crews worked efficiently and were very professional.

"The work was noisy, but it was actually fun to watch the progress," she said. "The equipment that they brought in was so massive, it was interesting to see."

This week, crews also will begin to purge the line that is being replaced, Manshum said.

"That should be complete, and the product, or the oil, flowing through the replacement line by the end of this month," Manshum said.

Work on the 30-inch pipeline began in St. Clair County last fall when Enbridge cleared the right-of-way through Columbus and St. Clair townships and Marysville.

In Marysville, the line travels next to Marysville City Park.

Fred and Viola Dill, of Marysville were eating a lunch in the park on Friday and said they were never bothered by the work.

"(Enbridge) has done a good job keeping everyone informed and putting everything back to the way it was," Fred Dill said. "I'm also not concerned about the pipeline breaking, like others are. We moved to Marysville in 1965, and at that time they were putting in another pipeline. That pipeline has been fine and hasn't ruptured, so I am confident that this one won't cause problems either."

The $1.3 billion project replaces Line 6B from Griffith, Indiana, to Sarnia. The last 50 miles cuts through Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties. The line carries crude oil to refineries.

Manshum said restoration of properties will continue until winter weather hits the area. He said the company's goal is restore most of the land disturbed by construction before the winter comes.

"Any remaining work would, of course, resume next spring when weather allows," Manshum said. "And if there's a project that doesn't take this fall, we'll be back to fix it next spring."

Manshum said the replacement in St. Clair County has been smooth compared to other spots along the replacement route through Michigan.

"There have been individuals or groups of people that have voiced their opposition to either the project or the industry," Manshum said, adding that in a few instances the opposition has become a threat to the safety of the protesters or Enbridge crew members.

"We've unfortunately experienced that in a few places along our Line 6B replacement project, but not in St. Clair County that I can recall at this time."

David Broze, who lives on Bartlett Road in St. Clair Township, said Enbridge crews have been working in his side yard for four out of the last five years.

"The old Enbridge crews were harder to work with," Broze said. "But the new people they have hired to fill their crews in the past couple years have been much easier to work with and professional."

Contact Beth LeBlanc at (810) 989-6259 or eleblanc@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @THBethLeBlanc. Contact Nicole Hayden at (810) 989-6279 or nhayden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @NicoleHayden_TH.