A pair of northern airports is receiving close to $4 million in funding from the federal government to make safety improvements.
The Greater Sudbury Airport is receiving, through the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), $2,425,854 for the rehabilitation of Runway 04-22 and the replacement of selected apron panels, and $754,567 for the installation of a wildlife management fence.
The runway rehabilitation and apron panel work will ensure continued safe operation for passengers, medical evacuations, and firefighting operations, while the wildlife fence is an important tool in controlling mammals, especially bears, on airport runways and surrounding land.
“We are extremely pleased to receive significant financial support from Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program,” said Dr. Bish Bora, chair of the Greater Sudbury Airport Community Development Corporation. “This investment will result in safer operations and improved services to the travelling public and will enable the Greater Sudbury Airport to fulfill its role as a catalyst for economic development.”
The Sault Ste.Marie Airport is receiving $797,527 through the same program for the replacement of a fire truck. The new, state-of-the-art fire truck will greatly enhance emergency response capability at the airport.
“Our growth in passenger levels over the last two years of 55 per cent is unprecedented due to the addition of a new air carrier and the improved charter seasonal vacation destinations,” said Jerry Dolcetti, chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation.
“We look forward to the next three to five years reaching another milestone of 200,000 passengers annually by strengthening our western connection. The replacement of our fire truck with ACAP funding will meet the changing firefighting requirements for such an increase in passenger volume.”
To date, the Sudbury airport has received more than $10 million for 16 projects, while the Sault airport has received $more than $7.8 million for 14 projects.
