Hamilton Reinforcement Project

Proposed project routes

Enbridge Gas is currently evaluating four possible route options, as a preferred route for the project has not yet been determined.

• The preliminary preferred route consists of approximately 14 km of 12-inch pipeline.
  • This route would also require the construction of a new gate station, a new customer station and two customer station rebuilds.
  • This preferred route would begin at the Trans Canada Energy crossing on Regional Rd. 56, and continue along Upper Centennial Pkwy., then on to Barton St., Kenilworth Ave. and eventually to the AMD customer site.
  

  View larger map

• Alternative route 1 follows the same path as the preliminary preferred route but consists of approximately 14 km of 10-inch pipe, and 100 m of 16-inch pipe.
   

  View larger map

• Alternative route 2 consists of approximately 15.7 km of 16-inch pipe and 2 km of 24-inch pipe. This route would start at the outlet of the Hamilton Takeoff Station, and segments would be in Carlisle, Flamborough and Hamilton.
   

  View larger map

• Alternative route 3 would consist of approximately 11.8 km of new pipeline, including:
  • Approximately 4.5 km of 16-inch pipeline would parallel an existing pipeline starting at the existing Enbridge Gas Hamilton Gate 3 station.
  • Approximately 5.1 km of new 12-inch pipeline, which would replace an existing 16-inch pipeline between two proposed new stations;
    • Despite it being a smaller size, the 12-inch pipe will create more capacity than the 16-inch pipe it is replacing, due to its higher pressure (4140 kPa vs. 1900 kPa).
  • A new, 12-inch pipeline, approximately 2.2 km in length, which would run from one of the new stations to the Dofasco customer site.
  • If this route is ultimately chosen, additional bypass work may be required to maintain the flow of gas throughout the construction period.
   

  View larger map

Project updates

Dillon Consulting has been hired to conduct an environmental study to assess the potential environmental and socio-economic effects that may result from this project. As part of this study, two in-person public information sessions were held in Hamilton and surrounding areas in early March 2023.

Interested parties were invited to attend and meet members of the project team in person. Information about how attendees can stay informed and participate after the session concluded was also available.

In-person session #1: March 2, 2023, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

• Stoney Creek Lions Club
• 14 Sherwood Park Road, Stoney Creek

In-person session #2: March 8, 2023, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

• Mount Hamilton Legion
• 435 Limeridge Road East, Hamilton

Virtual (online): Feb. 27 – March 12, 2023
A virtual public information session was also held online from Feb. 27 to March 12. Visitors could provide their input on the project by visiting hamiltonreinforcement.com. Members of the public and the media were also invited to take part in the virtual session.

The in-person and virtual public information sessions have now ended.

You can view the slides from the presentation, which was provided to visitors to the in-person and virtual sessions. You can also view the video presentation from the virtual session.

Enbridge Gas plans to file a leave to construct application with the Ontario Energy Board. If approved, construction of the pipeline could begin in the early 2025 and be complete by the end of 2025.

Timeline

Indigenous and community engagement

For new construction projects, the collective input from Indigenous communities and Métis, government agencies, municipalities, stakeholders, the public and landowners play an integral role in the route and site selection process.

Prior to construction, public input is obtained to ensure that the community is advised of the proposed project, and to involve the public in the decision-making process. Public consultation is a key component of the environmental report.

By providing the public with an opportunity to receive information about the project, the consultation program helps identify and address stakeholder concerns, and have meaningful participation into the project review and development process. Please see below for additional information.

Public input from consultation will be used to help finalize the project and mitigation plans to be implemented during construction.

After the Leave to Construct application has been filed with the the OEB, any party with an interest in the project, including members of the public, can participate in the process.

Public notification

Virtual information session

Stakeholder consultation is an important part of this study. Members of the public, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders were invited to attend the virtual information session to review the project and to provide comments.

Date: Materials were available from Feb. 27 to March 12, 2023, at hamiltonreinforcement.com

In-person information sessions

Session #1: March 2, 2023, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

• Stoney Creek Lions Club
• 14 Sherwood Park Road, Stoney Creek

Session #2: March 8, 2023, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

• Mount Hamilton Legion
• 435 Limeridge Road East, Hamilton

The in-person and virtual public information sessions have now ended.

You can view the slides from the presentation, which was provided to visitors to the in-person and virtual sessions. You can also view the video presentation from the virtual session.

Project commencement letters

Notice of project commencement letters were mailed out to the Ontario Pipeline Coordinating Committee, agencies, local municipalities, directly and indirectly affected landowners, and Indigenous communities in Feb. 2023.

You can view the notice of commencement.

Newspaper advertisements

The notice of project commencement was published in the Hamilton Spectator during the weeks of Feb. 13 and Feb. 20, 2023.

Regulatory information

The Hamilton Reinforcement Project regulated by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), an independent government agency that regulates the electricity and natural gas sectors. After a public review and hearing, the OEB will decide whether to approve our application. In this section, you can review all regulatory files about the project once they are available.

Environmental report

In accordance with the OEB's “Environmental Guidelines for the Location, Construction and Operation of Hydrocarbon Pipeline and Facilities in Ontario, 7th Edition 2016”, Enbridge Gas has retained the services of Dillon Consulting, an independent environmental consultant, to complete an environmental assessment for the proposed project.

The purpose of the environmental assessment is to:

• identify any potential impacts of the proposed project on the social, economic and natural environments
• identify local or provincial concerns regarding the proposed project
• determine preferred routing of the pipeline segments
• gather input from agencies, stakeholders, First Nations and Métis, affected landowners, and the public.

In addition, it recommends mitigation measures to limit impacts on the social, economic and natural environments. It is important to minimize potential negative impacts of the proposed natural gas distribution pipelines and associated facilities on the environment. The data, analysis and results of the environmental assessment are detailed in an environmental report.

A link to the environmental report will be available here once it is complete.

Leave to construct application

Enbridge Gas plans to file a leave to construct application with the Ontario Energy Board in 2024.

A link to the leave to construct application will be available here once it is complete.

We want to hear from you!

We encourage you to contact us, should you have any questions about the proposed project. To be in touch, please choose from one of the options below.