Advocacy News – March 7, 2025
What’s new: Last Friday, the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority met in Lansing to hear updates on the Line 5 Tunnel Project, specifically in regards to the permits that would allow construction to begin. This comes in the wake of the Michigan Court of Appeals upholding the state permit, though there’s still time for another appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently met with the US Army Corps of Engineers and says a draft of the environmental impact statement is still expected this spring.
- “There has been an executive order declaring an energy emergency, which called on federal agencies to use emergency authority to speed up critical energy projects. There are no details, at this time, if that executive order will have any impact on this project, and the USACE is still proceeding with the EIS as planned,” said Mark Dubay, MDOT Senior Project Manager.
Why it matters: The approval process for the construction of the Great Lakes Tunnel that will house a new twin pipeline under the Mackinac Straits has faced months of delays, while also facing litigation primarily from the Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
- The Great Lakes Tunnel project is critical in protecting our lakes and natural resources while simultaneously creating thousands of jobs.
The MI Chamber will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds and remain engaged with decision-makers on the need and importance of the approval and construction of the Great Lakes Tunnel.
For more information, contact Mike Alaimo at malaimo@michamber.com.