Heather Wright/The Independent

Enbridge Gas is spending $164 million to upgrade a natural gas line which runs from Dawn-Euphemia to London.

And Darryl Arnold, the manager of operations in the region, told councillors Monday, the company planned to use as many local contractors as possible.

Arnold says the project, which was approved by the Ontario Energy Board in late January, will replace two aging pipelines which run side by side over 82 kilometres from the Dawn Site in Dawn-Eupehmia to the Komoka Station in Middlesex Centre.

The original pipeline was built sometime between 1930 and 1950, says Arnold.
“The project will be focused on hiring local construction employees and sourcing local materials whenever possible, creating jobs in a time of economic uncertainty,” Arnold says.

And a few more people in Dawn-Euphemia can hook into the new line, he says.
“In addition to maintaining service for all existing customers, access to natural gas will be open to approximately five new properties that currently do not have access as a result of route changes.”

Construction is planned to begin in the spring and be completed by December of 2021, with project cleanup and restoration occurring in 2022, according to the gas company officials.

Once the new line is in service, Arnold said, the service interruption is fairly short and will be scheduled at a time that is convenient for the customers The switchover usually occurs within one business day.

The only concern Dawn-Euphemia Mayor Al Broad voiced was the construction timeline will fall during the wheat harvest this year. He asked the company to be aware they are sharing some narrow roadways with farmers during their peak season. Arnold says they will be consulting with neighbours throughout the process.

While the London Line project will be the most visible, Enbridge is also working on a number of projects from the Dawn site.

There will be the replacement of a 42 inch line onsite between May and September.
The company will also be looking at the aging compressors at the Corunna station with an eye to replace them in the future.