Two recent town hall meetings in Morden and Gretna about the new Line 3 pipeline have prompted Enbridge to respond to concerned community members.

One of the concerns was the longevity of new pipeline, and how soon it would need to be replaced.

Suzanne Wilton, spokesperson for Enbridge, said every pipeline is unique in its lifespan.

"Pipelines are no different than other infrastructure like bridges or power lines, they age at different rates due to environment, general use, and other factors," said Wilton.

A second concern brought up in a meeting in Gretna was why the old line will stay in the ground, and why it isn't being removed as the new Line 3 is put in.

"Leaving the decommissioned pipeline in place is the safest and least disruptive option. It means minimal disturbance during project construction and significantly reduces the risk of future soil and slope instability. So, really, leaving the line in the ground is the safest and the least environmental impact for land owners and the environment."

The topic of oil spills was also a major topic at both meetings.

"Safety is our top priority. Our goal is for zero incidents," said Wilton. "From 2006 to 2015, we transported 17.2 billion barrels of crude oil... with a safe delivery record of more than 99.999 per cent. But again, we know that's not good enough and we won't rest until it gets to zero."

Wilton added they welcome discussion about the project.

"We understand the community is interested and they want information and we're happy to provide it, we've been engaged with the community on this project for the past 3 years and that'll continue as construction progresses."

The new pipeline, Wilton said, will enhance safety and reduce the need for continuous integrity digs and maintenance that is currently done on the existing pipeline.

"That's what this project is all about. It's an essential safety and maintenance project that will replace an existing pipeline with the most advanced pipeline technology," she added.