LANSING, Mich, (WZMQ) – The Canadian energy company Enbridge has announced the selection of the two tunneling companies that will lead construction on the Great Lakes Tunnel Project.
In a release sent out on May 1st, Enbridge announced that the 21-month search had come to an end. Barnard Construction Company, Inc. and Civil and Building North America, Inc. (CBNA) will be working with Enbridge to rehome the tunnel. Barnard, based in Bozeman, Montana, and CBNA, based in Miami, will be operating under the joint venture known as Mackinac Straits Partners (MSP).
“Combined, the companies have built more than 100 tunnels in 15 countries. Several of the projects—including the Port of Miami Tunnel in Miami and the Central Subway Tunnel in San Francisco—involved geological conditions similar to those in the Straits of Mackinac.”
The energy company said they are preparing to begin tunnel construction as soon as possible, but are still waiting on permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The USACE has said they will hand down a decision in early 2026, but the pipeline has also seen recent arguments in federal appellate courts that could impact any action.
Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel has been working alongside other state officials and climate activists to see the pipeline shut down. Nessel v. Enbridge, A case that would relocate the lawsuit from federal to Michigan state courts, saw arguments as recently as this March in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“Our environment, our natural resources are counting down towards their expiration date. We do not have time to continue along the way we’ve been going,” Nessel said. “Line 5 runs along the bottom lens of the Straits of Mackinac at depths of up to 270 feet below the surface. And that is to say that this over 70-year-old pipeline is situated smack dab in the middle of one of the most fragile, unique, precious ecosystems in not just the state of Michigan, but I would argue all of the United States of America.”
WZMQ reached out to Enbridge for an interview, the offer was declined, but Ryan Duffy, Corporate Communications and Media Relations Strategist with the company sent this statement:
“Enbridge has retained a joint venture partnership between Barnard Construction Company, Inc. (Barnard) and Civil and Building North America, Inc. (CBNA), two industry-leading tunneling companies, to lead construction of the Great Lakes Tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac.
Barnard, based in Bozeman, Montana, and CBNA, based in Miami, Florida, will work with Enbridge to build the tunnel for the State of Michigan. The Great Lakes Tunnel is being designed as a utility corridor to connect Michigan’s peninsulas. The tunnel will house the Line 5 pipeline as it crosses under the lakebed at the Straits to protect the Great Lakes and the environment and to ensure vital energy resources are delivered safely and reliably to the region.
“This agreement with Barnard and CBNA marks a milestone for this historic project. The selection of these two world-class companies reinforces our commitment to safely building the Great Lakes Tunnel,” said Tom Schwartz, Senior Vice President Liquids Pipelines, Enbridge Strategic Projects and Partnerships.
The contract was awarded following an extensive request for proposal (RFP) process that was initiated by Enbridge in early 2022. The Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority (MSCA), which is charged with oversight for construction and operations of the Great Lakes Tunnel agreed that the RFP conformed with requirements of the Tunnel Agreement. Financed solely by Enbridge, the Great Lakes Tunnel, once completed, will be owned and operated by the MSCA.
Barnard and CBNA will each retain a 50 percent partnership under the name Mackinac Straits Partners. Both companies have extensive tunnel related experience.
Combined, the companies have built more than 100 tunnels in 15 countries equaling more than 372 miles of tunnel. A number of those projects involved geologic conditions similar to those that will exist in the Straits of Mackinac.
Enbridge is preparing to begin construction as soon as possible following the receipt of environmental permits for the tunnel project from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps has indicated early 2026 for permit decision making.
As we advance this major energy modernization infrastructure project, Enbridge remains steadfast in our plan to reduce emissions to net-zero by 2050 by investing in renewables, modernizing our networks, and transporting and delivering these energy resources safely.”
Ryan Duffy – Corporate Communications and Media Relations Strategist, Enbridge
