The Town of La Ronge will have to pay a portion of the airport drainage project. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

infrastructure

Province commits $133,000 for drainage system maintenance at La Ronge Airport

May 19, 2022 | 2:22 PM

The La Ronge Airport will receive $133,000 from the provincial government to complete drainage system maintenance this summer.

That’s according to a media release issued Thursday, which states the investment is through the Community Airport Partnership (CAP) program. The total amount distributed throughout Saskatchewan totals $935,000 and those dollars will be matched by the local municipalities the funds are awarded to.

La Ronge Airport operations manager Jim Burr told larongeNOW a survey had been done showing deficiencies in the facility’s drainage system involving ditches, culverts and slopes.

“The drainage system isn’t functioning as it should and, in order to keep the airfield in serviceable condition, we want the drainage system to be functioning efficiently,” he said. “There will be some work on the ditches themselves, so changing the elevations and ditches where needed in order to get the water to flow. There will be some culvert work as well.”

The release noted community and regional airports contribute to the province’s economy by supporting vital public services like Saskatchewan’s Air Ambulance, law enforcement and fire suppression. CAP supports local airports by helping to offset the costs of rehabilitation and improvements, with cost-shared grants up to a maximum of $275,000.

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Since 2007-08, the Ministry of Highways has invested almost $11 million and more than 40 different communities and rural municipalities have benefited from the CAP program.

“CAP is a municipal program that provides funding for the rehabilitation, construction and capital improvements of airport infrastructure for community-owned airports in Saskatchewan,” Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw said in the release. “These investments go into improving things such as runway lighting, navigation systems, taxiways, runways, as well as other repairs and safety improvements.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno