Released on December 10, 2020
Pre-construction work for safety improvements to the Fond Du Lac Airport is underway.
“Our government is committed to investing in the north and this includes air travel in northern Saskatchewan,” Highways Minister Joe Hargrave said. “Maintaining and improving infrastructure that is critical to services like air ambulance and firefighting is vital for those living in the north.”
The cost for construction, awarded to Saskatchewan-based Whitford Construction, comes in at a cost of $14 million.
The project safety improvements include:
- construction of turn pads at both ends of the runway;
- strengthening and re-surfacing of the runway, taxiway and apron; and
- replacing existing low-intensity lighting with high-intensity LED lights.
Rock crushing began in early November with construction scheduled for completion in the fall of 2021.
“This project is important, since it is essential for moving people to and from the community,” Fond Du Lac Chief Louie Mercredi said. “This has become much more urgent due to the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, further delays to this project may restrict landing and take-off weights while increasing a number of other costs associated with air transportation.”
The Government of Canada, through the Airports Capital Assistance Program has provided $12.1 million in funding over three years for the project. The Government of Saskatchewan will fund the remaining cost totalling $1.9 million as well as the ongoing cost of operations and maintenance averaging $215,000 a year.
The Government of Saskatchewan will improve more than 1,000 km of provincial highways this year, the first of its 10-year Growth Plan goal to build and upgrade 10,000 km of highways. Another $300 million in highways stimulus funds will be invested over the next two years in thin-membrane surface upgrades, passing lanes and improvements to municipal roads and airports.
The Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $628 million in northern highways and airports since 2008, including $60.3 million this year.
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For more information, contact:
David Horth
Highways
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4804
Email: david.horth@gov.sk.ca