A local politician says a review released this week on the massive Bipole lll hydroelectric project confirmed his worst fears.

The study of the transmission line and Keeyask generating station says the former N-D-P government needlessly added one-billion dollars to the cost by deciding to build the line on a longer route through western Manitoba.

"I'm disappointed that we have expended all this extra money," said Emerson MLA Cliff Graydon.

Graydon, who sits on Manitoba Hydro's board of directors, says the board did its due diligence by conducting the assessment at the request of the new Progressive Conservative government.

That assessment also discovered that it was too late to change to the cheaper eastern route because 95 per cent of contracts have been awarded.

"We hired a consulting firm that determined the project was so far advanced there was no turning back."

The review also found construction costs continue to rise for the transmission line and generating station, now estimated at 12.1-billion dollars, one-billion higher than forecast last year.

"The sad fact is, we are where we are, so we have to finish the project because it's too far along," said Graydon. "We have commitments to fulfill and we have significant money already invested."