Even if they did continue the shipping for a year, they would not actually close the road. They would have to construct turn outs to stop the traffic and let the load pass. You have to realize, there isn’t much traffic in this area.
As for the out sourcing, you had better get used it. We no longer have the skilled labor to do the work and what we have is all union and way too expensive. Refineries are on such a tight margin of profit, that they cannot afford the union demands.
I read somewhere that a small boat building company that built tugs on the Great Lakes was going out of business because they couldn’t find enough top level welders to build their boats. You don’t want bad welds in boats or refineries.
If you don’t want bad welds in boats or refineries, you don’t want the welding done off-shore. If you’d like to live next to a pipeline, refinery or other chemical processing plant build with third world welds, I invite you to do so. I’ve seen third world welding, and I want nothing to do with it. I’ve also seen third world steel, and I want even less to do with that.
We have plenty of skilled labor and welders in the US. They require payment for what they do. It isn’t an easy job, but it is a critical job. The guys and gals who are really good welders are well worth their money - you don’t need to air-arc out their crap and do it over. It is done once for the ages.