Despite some major challenges caused by forest fires, an airport and roadway upgrade at Stony Rapids is expected to be completed on time and on budget.
It’s a $14 million project that will see some major improvements to the airport and service road. Points Athabasca has been awarded the contract.
Company spokesman Glen Strong says there were some challenges because of forest fires and the exacting nature of doing airport runway work.
He says there has also been some criticism that Points Athabasca is not using enough local companies.
“One of the main things that I think needs to be addressed here is that I continue to hear from local people that there is not enough involvement,” he said. “On the contrary – we do have 71 per cent of local people involved here.”
Those people come from Stony Rapids, Black Lake, and Fond du Lac.
The project is expected to be complete by October. In addition to work at the airport, Strong says the road and bypass will offer a safer route for hazardous goods.
“The bypass road that comes into the community, it is going to take dangerous goods away from that factor of going down by the water and making those turns and going through the community as they have done before. So that is going to be a great improvement for the community,” he said.
All of the work at the airport is being done at night so as not to interrupt the operations of the airport.
The project is jointly funded by the provincial and federal governments. It involves an expansion of an apron at the airport, improved lighting, and the construction of the new service road.