North Battleford’s airport has been awarded $275,000 from the province’s Community Airport Partnership program.
The funding is for runway rehabilitation at Cameron McIntosh Airport in 2016.
The City of North Battleford will pick up the tab for the other $275,000 for the project. The Community Airport Partnership program is cost-shared with municipalities on a 50-50 split basis.
The runway restoration is part of a long-term runway rehabilitation project at the airport over a span of four years, at a cost estimated at $2,073,000.
About a quarter of the work is to happen this year with the rest taking place over the next three years. The plan for 2016, as outlined by administration at city council in January, is to apply 75 millimetres of asphalt on the middle 75 feet of runway, for 2,500 feet.
North Battleford council gave the go-ahead in January for the funding application to proceed under the CAP program.
In speaking with reporters Monday, City Manager Jim Puffalt was pleased with the news of the funding approval.
“It’s a great project, it’s a start of the rehab of the runways,” said Puffalt.
The city manager expressed the belief the importance of the airport to the area was a key factor in getting the funding.
“Probably, we had a compelling case for rehab of the runways. As we know North Battleford is a good regional airport. It provides great service for air ambulance — STARS — all those types of things. So it’s important that the Province and the City work together to keep these types of facilities available for use.”
Puffalt indicated the tender for the work for 2016 should go out shortly and should be done by the fall, as part of the City’s asphalt program.
The North Battleford airport received the largest amount of funding under the CAP program this year. Overall, CAP will be investing $700,000 to projects at 12 airports across Saskatchewan.
Another airport in the region receiving funding under the program is Unity, which is getting $15,000 for crack sealing.
Biggar airport is also getting $48,756 for paving apron and taxi areas, while Kindersley is getting $9,259 for asphalt preservation and to repair runway access.
Other than North Battleford, the airport in Swift Current received the largest funding — $68,000 for asphalt overlays, slurry seals and crack sealing. Yorkton also received $61,961 for crack sealing, wildlife fencing and runway/taxiway line markings.
“We are pleased to partner with communities across the province in improving their airport infrastructure,” said Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner in a statement.
“Community airports provide an important service, supporting tourism, agriculture, health care delivery and law enforcement.”
