New Pipeline Project Proposed | Video

Rich Wisniewski | 4/5/2012

The need for thousands and thousands of long haul trucks that travel the roads of western North Dakota daily could be eliminated if the Sandpiper Pipeline is built. Katie Haarsager says, the Enbridge project could go in one of two directions.

“One possible option would be to go north to the international border where it would go to Manitoba and from there come down the main line through Canada to Clearbrook, Minnesota.”

The other route would parallel Enbridge`s existing mainline.

“From Beaver Lodge, which is south of Tioga. There it would follow through Minot and then follow our mainline into Clearbrook, Minnesota,” she added.

The Sandpiper Pipeline would move 350,000 barrels of oil a day to eastern markets and that would reduce long haul truck traffic by 2,000 trucks per day because more oil will be able to flow underground to its destination.

“Anything you can do to reduce traffic has got to help,” said Martin Newnhan.

Newnhan is just one of the thousands of long haul truck drivers who frequently pass through western North Dakota. He has to deal with deteriorating road conditions just like everyone else who drives through oil country.

“We have bad spots everywhere, just depends on how much traffic is on them,” said Mark McNarlin, a trucker from Minnesota.

It would take two to four years to build The Sandpiper Pipeline, but once it`s completed a lot of oil pressure will be taken off the roads of western North Dakota.

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