Highbridge, WI—The workday begins early on the Line 5 Wisconsin Segment Relocation Project.
On this particular day, hundreds of workers gather for an all-hands construction meeting before heading out across the project. Welders, operators, laborers, inspectors, environmental specialists and supervisors stand shoulder-to-shoulder as project leaders review work performed, reinforce safety expectations and provide updates on construction progress.
It’s a reminder that a project of this scale depends on every person understanding their role and looking out for one another. Today they’re also collecting donations for the regional food shelf.
Project leaders use all-hands meetings to discuss everything from weather conditions and equipment movements to environmental protection measures and protocols around working safely near roads, water crossings and active construction zones. The focus is simple: make sure every worker goes home safely at the end of the workday.
Among the workers listening closely this morning is John McKinney, an Enbridge chief inspector and member of the Cherokee Nation who traveled to northern Wisconsin from eastern Oklahoma.
For the past two years, Ashland has been home.
“Everybody here is extremely welcoming,” McKinney said. “It’s heartwarming when you come into town and people are curious about the project and really glad to have us in the area.”
Like many workers on the project, McKinney arrived long before major construction activities began. The Line 5 relocation has required years of planning, environmental review, permitting and preparation before crews could put pipe in the ground. Many workers who helped prepare for construction have become familiar faces in local restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and stores throughout Ashland and Iron counties.
McKinney says it’s common for workers on large-scale infrastructure projects to spend extended periods away from their hometowns.
“A lot of people travel with their families whenever they can,” he said. “When you’re working on a project of this size, you become part of the community.”
The eyes and ears of quality control
While heavy equipment and pipeline crews are often the most visible workers on a construction project, inspectors play a critical role behind the scenes.
As chief inspector, McKinney oversees a team responsible for verifying that construction activities meet project specifications, engineering requirements and quality standards every step of the way.
Inspectors observe and document work performed by contractors, verify that approved procedures are being followed and ensure construction activities are completed according to project requirements. They coordinate with construction crews, engineering teams and environmental specialists while maintaining detailed records of work performed in the field.
TOP PHOTO: Line 5 construction is creating more than 700 family supporting jobs. Here hundreds of workers gather for an early morning “all-hands” meeting. ABOVE LEFT: Chief inspector John McKinney walks along a segment of Line 5 during construction. ABOVE RIGHT: Many layers of inspection are done during pipeline construction.
Perhaps most importantly, McKinney and his team help ensure the integrity of the pipe itself is protected throughout the construction process.
“We make sure that the integrity of the pipe is maintained from the time it is set on the ground until it’s buried,” he explained.
That means monitoring how pipe sections are handled, examining coatings designed to protect the pipe, observing welding and testing activities, and confirming that materials meet required specifications before they become part of the finished pipeline.
“These are highly trained individuals who have many years of experience and qualifications and have put in the time to do this the right way,” McKinney said.
“I am very proud of the work I do,” McKinney added. He and his sharp-eyed team, are the beating heart of quality control for the project, helping to ensure that this critical energy infrastructure will serve the community and region for generations to come.
