FINCH, Ontario – A deluge of rain in the Cornwall area has set the construction of the International Plowing Match’s custom-made electrical grid back by a day or so.
Crews with Hydro One were expected to begin construction of the monstrous grid Wednesday in Finch, the site of the agriculture spectacle next month.
But the construction has been delayed because the field is just too wet and cannot support the heavy-duty trucks that will be on the land during construction.
A media event to kick off the construction took place Wednesday, but pretty much fizzled when the crews were sent to complete other jobs off-site.
“It will still take about six weeks to complete,” said Lyndon MacNaughton, a Hydro One supervisor at the site.
The electrical grid, including some 325 poles and more than 19 km of wires and cables, is being built to power up the fair grounds and nearby RV park.
MacNaughton has worked on previous IPM projects in Navan and Carelton Place.
He said the biggest challenge of the construction will be to avoid tile drainage infrastructure already in place on farmland just outside Finch, about 25 minutes northwest of Cornwall.
“But they have it mapped out pretty good, so we should be ok,” MacNaughton added.