Residents of Steinbach and La Broquerie may have noticed unusually high helicopter activity in the area over the last few weeks.

Bruce Owen is a spokesperson for Manitoba Hydro. He says a helicopter is being used to transport equipment and personnel to areas that are not accessible by road and trail as Manitoba Hydro works on pre-construction geotechnical surveys for the Manitoba – Minnesota Transmission Project.

Owen says the geotechnical surveys involve the use of track-mounted drill rigs that take samples of the soil at proposed tower locations that will help with the final design of the project. He notes the drilling began the week of January 7 and is expected to continue until the end of February.

Alvin Derksen is a councillor in the RM of La Broquerie. He says many residents of La Broquerie have been asking what is going on as they do not recognize the chopper. He notes the flight path of the helicopter goes right over their house.

"They fly over some days as many as three times a day. My wife was saying the other night, pretty late at night, she heard that same chopper going over so we were wondering what are they doing in the dark. Everyone knows it is not STARS, it sounds much different it sounds much more powerful."

The helicopter has been flying out of Steinbach North Airport and has been traveling to and from potential tower locations in the La Broquerie area.

Read More: Manitoba Hydro Begins Pre-Construction On Transmission Project