Progress has all but stopped on the Manitoba to Minnesota Transmission Line and the rain is wholly to blame.

“Work has been temporarily suspended on some parts of the project only because of the excessive moisture we have received over the past couple of weeks,” states Manitoba Hydro Spokesperson Bruce Owen.

He compares his crews’ situation to that of local farmers: “They’re trying to get their crop off of the field but they can't because it’s too wet. We’re no different. Moving machinery in these conditions when it is completely saturated, it just doesn’t work.”

Owen says the troublesome weather is not exclusive to southeastern Manitoba either, but spanning the entire length of the project. Though some smaller pieces of the line can be assembled, Owen says the majority of the work is at a total standstill and will remain that way until the ground dries up or freezes entirely,

“We’re at the mercy of the weather and right now the weather isn’t cooperating,” he remarks. “We need winter to start tomorrow.”

Until then, Owen says some workers have been repurposed, but most are idly waiting for conditions to improve.