Enbridge says Line 3 replacement complete, opens Friday

Enbridge says the upgrade and expansion of its Line 3 pipeline across Minnesota is complete and will become operational on Friday.

The Canadian-based company’s President and CEO Al Monaco said in a statement Wednesday that the pipeline “will soon deliver the low-cost and reliable energy that people depend on every day.”

The project was completed despite stiff opposition from tribes, environmentalists and others that the 1,097-mile pipeline violated treaty rights, would worsen climate change and would risk spills.

"It’s a really tragic day in northern Minnesota as Enbridge prepares to go towards oil," pipeline opponent Winona LaDuke, of Honor the Earth, said. "Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline is a crime."

She says opponents plan to continue challenging the pipeline in federal court.

Enbridge said it was necessary to replace and expand a deteriorating pipeline built in the 1960s.

The line starts in Alberta, Canada, before crossing North Dakota and Minnesota en route to Enbridge’s terminal in Superior, Wisconsin.