Interprovincial Pipe Line: The first 35 years (1949-84)

The first 35 years of Interprovincial Pipe Line (now Enbridge) and its American subsidiary, Lakehead Pipe Line, were filled with major industry achievements. Milestones included the construction of Canada’s first long-haul oil export pipeline in 150 days; solving a Great Lakes winter shipping bottleneck by building Line 5 from Superior to Sarnia; construction of North America’s first 48-inch-diameter pipeline, the largest-bore pipe ever laid for the movement of crude oil, with segments installed from Edmonton to Superior; and the completion of Line 9 from Sarnia to Montreal to reduce Canada’s dependence on foreign crude oil.