Preliminary construction of a new power line that will run from southeast Winnipeg to Letellier is expected to start later this year.

Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Scott Powell says the 230kV St. Vital to Letellier Transmission Line will run through the southeast, following a path along Highway 59, go around St. Pierre to the east, and continue south past Provincial Road 201 where it will turn west towards the Letellier Station.

Powell says the project is designed to enhance the reliability of the power supply to the southeast due to the major growth in the area in recent years.

"We've seen a lot of new businesses, a lot of population growth and we require infrastructure to keep up on that and this is part of that," adds Powell, "so it's really strengthening the more interconnections you have between the various components of the 230 grid and the various sections of the grid, you really do have that enhanced reliability and can accommodate that growth in different regions of the province."

Powell says Manitoba Hydro got the approvals for the line in 2017 but says the initial work will begin later this year