Merrickville-Wolford residents will soon be able to benefit from access to a cost-effective and reliable energy source for their homes and businesses.
The Merrickville-Wolford Community Expansion Project (the Project) will enable Enbridge Gas to provide natural gas to the Village of Merrickville-Wolford residents on the north side of the Rideau River.
The Project is funded by $2.46 million from the Ontario Government’s Natural Gas Expansion Program, in addition to the system expansion surcharge (23 cents/m3 to be paid over a term of 40 years by all customers served by the Project).
To bring gas to Merrickville-Wolford, the following facilities will be required and are subject to Leave to Construct (LTC) approvals.
The Project will involve the installation of up to approximately 5 kilometers (km) of a combination steel and polyethylene natural gas distribution pipeline ranging from 2-inch to 4-inch. The proposed tie-in of the distribution system is located on the south side of the Rideau River (County Rd. 43). The proposed main would cross the river, bringing gas to the north and extending along Heritage Dr., W Broadway St., Mill St., and more.
Preliminary preferred route (PPR) and Alternate Routes (AR)
- Following stakeholder engagement and further constructability assessments Enbridge Gas will be considering a river crossing in the area of the previously identified Alternate Route 3, as the Preliminary Preferred Route. The adjacent figure (map) shows the updated proposed river crossing routes.
- The PPR will connect to the existing Enbridge Gas system just south of County Road 43 on Main Street East and run west across the Rideau River. A short reinforcement will be required to facilitate the crossing, from the intersection of Charlotte St. and Main Street East.
- The river crossing will be installed via Horizontal Directional Drill.
- All options would serve customers on the opposite side of the Rideau River. Please refer to the map to see the proposed routes and study areas for the Project.
- Should AR1 or AR2 be selected, a longer reinforcement would be required along Main Street East from Charlotte Street to St. Lawrence Street.
- AR1 and AR2 would connect to the new reinforcement at St. Lawrence Street and Main Street East and run north across the Rideau River.
- The final pipeline route is determined based on Enbridge Gas’ current infrastructure in place as well as the results of the environmental assessment of the proposed routes.
- As this is a Community Expansion Project, the final route also considers servicing the largest number of potential customers.
- Final routing will be determined in consultation with Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and public input.
The preliminary proposed and alternate route(s) have been developed for the purposes of an assessment of potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts and do not represent the final project scope/design that will provide access to natural gas to end-use customers.
Enbridge Gas has hired Stantec, a third-party environmental consultant, to complete a detailed review of the proposed route in terms of the environmental and socio-economic impacts.
The study is being conducted in accordance with the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) Environmental Guidelines for the Location, Construction, and Operation of Hydrocarbon Projects and Facilities in Ontario, 8th Edition. Once the study is complete, Enbridge may apply to the OEB for approval to construct the Project, otherwise identified as a Leave To Construct (LTC).
Enbridge Gas is working in many project areas across Ontario to prepare for future natural gas community expansion projects as part of the Ontario Government’s Natural Gas Expansion Program. Area residents may see work being conducted by Enbridge Gas employees, or contractors working on our behalf with crews completing soil sampling, land surveying, test digs and holding field meetings, which are all activities that help inform our Project routes and timelines for construction. This pre-work is ongoing, and area residents may occasionally notice equipment in operation, and some noise. Enbridge Gas apologizes for any inconvenience this might cause. All employees and contractors carry identification at all times.
Project status/timeline
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Feasibility
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Environmental studies
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Regulatory review
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Regulatory approval
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Under construction
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In-service
Project status/timeline
-
Feasibility
-
Environmental studies
-
Regulatory review
-
Regulatory approval
-
Under construction
-
In-service
