North Battleford airport gets funding boost

The runway improvement project at the Cameron McIntosh Airport in North Battleford has received another boost from the province.

On Friday, Battlefords MLA Herb Cox announced the province will invest $275,000 more to continue work repaving the runway through the Community Airport Partnership program. The City of North Battleford will match the province’s contribution towards the estimated $550,000 cost of this year’s work.  

“It’s great news,” North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater said. “This has been a great partnership between the Saskatchewan government and our city government. Since 2007 each of these governments have contributed $1.2 million to this airport. Today’s announcement from the province is very exciting … This airport is incredibly important to the community. It’s a well-used airport and an asset that needs to be maintained.”

Air ambulance and a number of businesses use the airport to access the Battlefords and the region, Bater said, but when he was given a tour of the airport two years ago before the upgrade work started, the runway was in “terrible” shape.

“It was far overdue,” he said of the upgrades. “I think the original runway was paved some time back in the ’50s.” 

Battle ready

Predators set to defend title as new PGLL season approaches

A few minutes ago

Meadow Lake arena and recreation facility

Innovation Federal Credit Union donates up to $1-million in community match

52m ago

Riderville

Riders Have Options Heading into Tuesday CFL Draft

5h ago

The runway repaving work started in 2016. This year, the city will be working on a repaving a portion of each of the two outer sides of the runway. In 2016 and 2017, work was completed repaving the centre portion. The project is expected to be completed next year, and this year’s work will begin in September.

Cox said this is the third year the province has provided funding towards the runway upgrades.  

“We’ve been very fortunate to get a good portion of the $700,000 that is allotted from the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure for this project and right across the province,” Cox said. “This is a very important airport not only for the Battlefords, but for the whole of the Northwest.”

Cox said province’s $700,000 funding this year, through the cost-shared program, will benefit 12 community airports in need of repairs and upgrades, including providing $4,000 for Kindsersley’s airport which will be used for runway asphalt preservation.

 angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW