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We are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade our natural gas infrastructure to benefit the over 1.8 million homes and businesses we serve throughout Lower Michigan.
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About 20 crews with different responsibilities will coordinate to remove the old line and install new pipe.
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Safety is our top priority, and daily briefings are key to a successful project.
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We restored 93 acres of the first phase construction area using a special seed mix containing native grasses and wildflowers to attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators losing habitat across the country.
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During the first phase of construction, we discovered turtle eggs in the right-of-way, removed them for safe hatching and released them back into their native habitat.
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Crews locate underground pipes and wires, remove trees, rocks and debris, and strip the top soil. Fences are installed to help control erosion along wetlands, streams and drain crossings.
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The old pipeline is removed, cut into sections and removed according to environmental best practices.
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Pipe is transported to the right-of-way, where it’s laid out, bent to follow the terrain and welded together. Technicians inspect the welds, the pipe is coated to prevent corrosion and re-inspected.
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Crews dig the ditch. The pipe is lifted and lowered into the ground and tied in to city gates or other junctions.
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When the pipeline has to cross roads and highways, we bore safely underneath and pull the pipe through according to industry best practices.
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The pipe is buried and a crew ensures the land is graded and flat.
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We leave it better than we found it by cleaning up the construction area and planting new grass seed. In some wild areas and wetlands, we may use a special mix to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
COVID-19 Update: We do not anticipate an impact to our energy services and have implemented guidelines to keep customers & employees safe.
COVID-19 Update: We do not anticipate an impact to our energy services and have implemented guidelines to keep customers & employees safe.
COVID-19 Update: We do not anticipate an impact to our energy services and have implemented guidelines to keep customers & employees safe.
COVID-19 Update: We do not anticipate an impact to our energy services and have implemented guidelines to keep customers & employees safe.
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Saginaw Trail Pipeline Project
Delivering Natural Gas Value
The Saginaw Trail Pipeline is a four-phase, $610 million project to modernize the natural gas infrastructure in Saginaw, Genesee and Oakland counties. The work is part of our Natural Gas Delivery Plan, a 10-year road map to a system that is even more safe, reliable, affordable and clean.
Background
Our Plan
In total, we’ll replace 78 miles of pipeline with 94.4 miles of newly installed pipeline.| Phase 1 - Completed | Clio city gate (CG) to Evon Road valve site | 18.5 Miles |
| Phase 2 - Completed | Evon Road to Zilwaukee CG | 18.5 Miles |
| Phase 3 - Completed |
Clio CG to Grand Blanc CG | 29.2 Miles |
| Phase 4 | Grand Blanc CG to Clawson Control | 28.2 Miles |
- Crews of union skilled trades workers plan to remove old pipe along the Saginaw Trail Pipeline route and install a new, larger pipeline.
- While the pipeline travels primarily through rural agricultural areas, it was rerouted around two large urban areas of Saginaw and Flint and will follow an existing route through the west side of Oakland County.
- In addition to replacing pipe, we're also rebuilding city gate facilities where gas pressure is regulated for safe delivery to homes and businesses.
- Each construction phase must be complete in time for the upcoming heating season. This requires world-class performance.
Latest News
The first three phases are complete. Construction on the fourth phase, which replaces about 28 miles of pipeline in Genesee and Oakland counties, is planned for 2020. About 3 miles of the remaining work will take place in Kensington Metropark near Milford. Here is a map of that section and answers to some frequently asked questions.
Working Together for Safer Communities
Because we are committed to being a good neighbor, we’re communicating clearly with communities in the project area. Whenever practical, the pipeline will follow existing easements.Our construction teams follow best practices such as:
- Using open-trench construction wherever reasonably possible and permitted. Boring of the new pipeline will be done under most roadways and where required for environmental reasons.
- Burying pipeline at least three feet deep in all areas.
- Burying pipeline four feet deep in agricultural areas.
- Locating all drain tiles on impacted farmland and, when necessary, repairing damaged tiles due to our construction.
Caring for Michigan's Environment
Consumers Energy is working carefully to protect the environment and local wildlife.We’ve completed a detailed environmental inventory of the project area – including all wetlands, drains and stream crossings – and will work with applicable federal, state and local agencies to consider all environmental concerns.
These efforts include identifying and protecting any threatened or endangered species such as bats and their habitats. An environmental inspector will be on-site daily during construction, and a herpetologist will help reptiles such as snakes and turtles that may be impacted. During 2018 construction, we rescued two adult turtles and a nest of turtle eggs from the right-of-way. The eggs were incubated under the care of a herpetologist and we plan to release the hatched turtles back into their habitat in spring 2019.
We've used a special pollinator mix to restore more than 125 acres of wild and wetland areas where new pipeline was buried to create new habitat for butterflies, bees and other pollinators. We’ve worked closely with the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge to minimize the project’s environmental impact and used an onsite environmental inspector to identify and manage environmental challenges. In 2020, we'll work with the Village of Milford, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Authority and other local community leaders to protect the environment.
Saginaw Trail Pipeyard
Our 80-acre campus in Thetford Township near Flint serves as home base for the project. The site has a field office, ample room for materials and equipment, and easy crew access to the entire project area. We’re happy to be part of the local community and look forward to a positive working relationship.Learn More
Public: 800-647-8101Media: 586-918-0597
eMail: SaginawPipeline@cmsenergy.com