Premier Doug Ford is expected to speak at a groundbreaking event scheduled in Leamington on Friday.
Enbridge Gas will be officially breaking ground on the $358 million pipeline in southwestern Ontario on Friday morning, beginning with a ceremony and speeches at 11:30 a.m. at a Leamington greenhouse.
Enbridge Gas said local leaders and industry stakeholders will mark the beginning of construction on the Panhandle Regional Expansion Project.
The company noted its investment aims to address increasing demand for affordable and reliable natural gas in southwestern Ontario and to serve residential, commercial, industrial, greenhouse, and power generation customers in the region, calling it a milestone for the project.
Ontario Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce will also be there along with Enbridge Gas executives.
Enbridge Gas noted this "pivotal step" will also empower economic development and sustainable growth in the region.
Enbridge Gas said the new pipeline will be 36 inches in diameter located adjacent to an existing pipeline corridor between Richardson Side Road in the Municipality of Lakeshore and Enbridge Gas’ existing Dover Transmission Station in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
The company noted the approximately 19 kilometers of new pipeline loops or parallels the existing 20-inch Panhandle Pipeline.
Enbridge anticipates construction to be finished later this year.
