密歇根州已批准与恩布里奇（Enbridge）达成协议，通过麦基诺海峡建立了新的石油管道。拟议的管道取代了当前暴露于水下元素的部分，将建造在密歇根湖和休伦湖连接的海峡地板下100英尺的隧道中。
加拿大石油运输专家Enbridge说，该复杂项目估计成本在3亿至6.5亿美元之间，预计将需要7到10年才能开发和建造。州官员强调，恩布里奇（Enbridge）而不是密歇根州的纳税人将支付建设费用。恩布里奇（Enbridge）承诺不仅代替现有的65年历史的5条油和液体天然气管道，而且还要添加可能包括电源线，光纤电信电缆和类似基础设施的公用事业走廊和隧道。最初的计划要求一条足够大的隧道，以便车辆可以驾驶，从而可以进行维护和检查。
安桥公司将建立隧道and, upon completion, hand over its ownership to the Mackinac Bridge Authority, the state agency that operates and collects tolls for the Mackinac Bridge. Enbridge would then hold a 99-year lease for use of the utility corridor and would remain responsible for operating and maintaining the tunnel.
“It’s going to take a little time; the Mackinac Bridge Authority must sign off on and agree to be the oversight administrator on this,” said Ari Adler, director of communications for governor Rick Snyder (R). “We’ve been told seven to 10 years total. I think it’ll be three to five of actual construction, so there’s some preliminary work to get done.”
Maintaining delivery of resources to the upper peninsula while, at the same time, doing more to protect the Great Lakes was the objective behind replacing the existing Line 5, which currently goes through the strait submerged in the water, Adler said.
阿德勒说：“一旦完成了所有研究和评论，一切似乎都指向隧道概念是实现这一目标的最佳方法。”“然后我们开始与Enbridge达成协议。”
The state sees no reason to remove the existing Line 5 from service until the project moves forward.
“我们看到的所有研究都说，现有基础设施对管道没有迫在眉睫的威胁。这更多是来自外部[威胁]。”他说。“因此，短期，我们必须找到一种解决这些安全问题的方法。长期是[找出]我们如何从水中取出管道，因此不会影响湖泊。”
环境al groups criticized the deal, saying that previous spills show that the existing Line 5 is a risk to Michigan’s environment, economy and public health and needs to be immediately taken out of service.
