Major upgrades coming to Yukon airport

Flatiron Construction Company has secured a $160-million contract for the replacement of the main runway at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport. The territorial government recently announced it would be contributing $62 million and the Canadian government more than $186 million, towards airport infrastructure improvements to maintain existing essential services such as passenger and charter flights, as well as cargo handling activities in the Yukon Territory.

The project has four main areas of focus, including upgrading the parallel runway, reconstructing the main runway, replacing the Whitehorse air maintenance facility, and building a new rotary operations (helicopter) area.

In addition to upgrading the airport’s critical infrastructure, the project aims to enhance safety measures and increase operational capacity to better support Yukon’s mining and tourism sectors. The project will also work to increase the airport’s resilience against the impacts of climate change.

“We’re investing in the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport to support the growth of the tourism and economic sectors in Yukon,” stated Canada’s Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez. “Strengthening our supply chains also means Canadians in Northern communities can more easily have access to the goods they need, when they need them and at fair prices.”

“As the largest airport in the Yukon, the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport is critical to our transportation network,” added Nils Clarke, Minister of Highways and Public Works with the Yukon government. “Our government is committed to making investments in our aviation infrastructure to help provide safe and reliable air travel for all. These upgrades will continue to ensure the airport meets the needs of the territory now and into the future.”

www.yukon.ca