Though Manitoba Hydro has just received provincial approval for their Manitoba to Minnesota Transmission Project, residents of the southeast will not notice physical progress for at least a few months.

“We cannot start construction immediately,” explains Manitoba Hydro Spokesperson Bruce Owen. “We’re still waiting for federal approval on the project because it crosses an international border.”

Owen stresses that all environmental and federal conditions must be fully met before they can begin working on the ground. He expects they will receive this second approval sometime this May, meaning construction will likely be delayed for a few months yet.

However, in anticipation of this, hydro has been doing work behind the scenes.

“We have been planning for an accelerated construction schedule,” notes Owen, who says things should fall into place quickly upon receiving the necessary approval. “I would like to think by early summer you will notice construction underway."

Meanwhile, Owen indicates that the Minnesota portion, called "The Great Northen Transmission Project", was fully approved several years ago and towers are already being installed throughout the state.

Though things on this side of the border are falling into place slightly slower than Manitoba Hydro was hoping, Owen expects the project will still be completed by their targeted date in June of 2020.