Line 5 marks a milestone
Pipeline delivers benefits for generations
Sept. 20, 2023
The year was 1953.
Tater Tots® and Eggo® Waffles emerge onto the food scene, quickly becoming staples in households across the United States.
Michigan automakers assemble by hand the first Chevrolet Corvette.
Scientists give rise to modern biology—opening doors to medical advances with discovery of the twisted-ladder structure of deoxyribonucleic acid, commonly known as DNA.
These changes called for flexibility, ingenuity and invention—qualities that Michiganders know very well.
That same year, the state and the region embarked on a new era of energy reliability when, on Sept. 21, Enbridge placed into service Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac.
“Line 5 remains an engineering marvel, as it was when we placed it into service 70 years ago,” said Mike Moeller, Enbridge’s director of the Great Lakes Region. “It continues to serve this region safely, meeting the energy needs of households and businesses alike.”
Transporting each day more than 22 million gallons of light crude oil, as well as natural gas liquids to make propane, Line 5 is the region’s critical energy source, safely delivering up to 540,000 barrels per day. Enbridge maintains Line 5 so that it operates safely and reliably through ongoing maintenance and inspection programs.
The Upper Peninsula relies on Line 5 to meet 65% of its propane demand. Similarly, Michigan overall depends on Line 5 to meet 55% of its propane needs.
“This region depends on Line 5 to help meet its energy needs and everyday conveniences,” said Moeller.
“Product from Line 5 is crucial to fueling our personal travel and commercial transportation—the trucks that deliver food to the supermarket and packages to our door. Line 5 also makes possible the manufacture of thousands of consumer items—mobile phones, clothes, medicine—even the ovens in which legions of people prepare their Tater Tots®.”
Next phase: Building the Great Lakes Tunnel to house Line 5 in the long term
To continue to meet the region’s energy and practical needs safely, Enbridge is planning to build the Great Lakes Tunnel. Constructed deep below the lakebed of the Straits, the concrete tunnel will house a replacement section of Line 5, enhancing safety measures and protection of Michigan’s waterways.
The tunnel may also house other utilities like high-speed internet services, helping link the Upper and Lower Peninsulas and improving 911 response.
“Construction of the Great Lakes Tunnel will be another engineering marvel—just like Mighty Mac, the Mackinac Bridge built in 1954,” said Moeller. “As with Line 5, we are using the best technology and skills to bring this modernization project to fruition to secure the region’s energy future and affordability, while advancing protection of our waterways.”
