When it was time to replace an aging crude oil pipeline that that partially rests on the riverbed of the Mississippi River, energy transportation firm Enbridge had to figure out how to build a new one, all while assuring they didn’t risk any environmental damage. The answer? Construct a new pipeline, yet extend it through a newly built tunnel…65 feet below the river.

In order to construct a pathway for the new pipeline, the crew is using a horizontal drill, according to Fox 2 Now St. Louis in November. They’re also inspecting each weld and then hand coating over the welds to block any pipeline corrosion that could otherwise occur.

A Special Focus on the Environment

In its report, Fox 2 Now St. Louis also noted that workers have placed crane mats on the ground, protecting the land they’re working on from get ripped up by any heavy machinery required to complete the project. This is especially critical, considering that they’re working in the area of the Jones-Confluence Point State Park. This means that they’ll effectively avoid the possibility of destroying any plant life/habitat essential to the area’s wildlife.

Crane mats used in such projects are brought in before any heavy machinery is used, and removed promptly once projects are complete. Enbridge, the energy delivery company in charge of the project, manages around 29 thousand miles of pipelines throughout the U.S. and Canada.