Construction begins on new 94-mile Consumers Energy pipeline in Michigan
Construction recently began on the Saginaw Trail Pipeline, a five-year, $610 million project set in three Michigan counties to increase the reliability of natural gas throughout the state, according to an announcement from Consumers Energy.
The project, set in Saginaw, Genesee, and Oakland counties, will involve crews of 450 union trade workers from Consumers and Welded Construction, who are already removing 12- and 16-inch pipelines that date back to the 1940’s in order to install the new 24-inch pipeline. In total, 94 miles of new pipeline will be installed throughout the project.
Additionally, an existing pipeline currently sitting in urban areas west of Saginaw and east of Flint will be rerouted in 2018 and 2019.
Taking place over five phases, beginning this year and finishing in December 2022, each phase will finish prior to the winter heating season so no service will be interrupted for customers.
Once completed, the project will stretch from Tittabawassee Township in Saginaw County to the south of Milford in Oakland County.
“This project is a long-term commitment by Consumers Energy and fulfills several promises to our customers, such as working for safer communities and delivering energy where it’s needed; with the added economic benefit of putting Michiganders to work,” Mary Palkovich, vice president of Gas Engineering and Supply for Consumers, said. “We are committed to operating safely as a cooperative neighbor while we work with communities to complete each phase of the project.”
