Nine small airports in northern and central B.C. are receiving provincial grants to support economic development, improve safety and increase access for rural communities.
The provincial government announced $19.8 million in funding for 40 projects at 29 rural and remote airports in B.C. through the BC Air Access Program. Projects include runway extensions, improved runway lighting, pavement improvements, terminal enhancements and better fire protection.
"The BC Air Access Program helps communities, especially smaller ones, with important improvements to their aviation facilities," Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said in a statement. "This investment will help move people and goods, improve safety and benefit front-line services, like air ambulance and wildfire fighting, as well as making for more secure access to remote and Indigenous communities."
Projects in northern and central B.C. which received funding include:
* 108 Mile - $2 million for runway rehabilitation.
* Bob Quinn Lake - $87,650 for an airport master plan and for a solar-powered weather camera with altimeter and satellite uplink.
* Dease Lake - $88,200 for an airport master plan and new batteries for solar-powered hazard beacons.
* Fort St. James - $2 million for the runway end safety area, lighting improvements and a master plan.
* Fraser Lake - $55,650 for pavement markings and an upgrade to runway shoulders.
* Kitimat - $511,250 for a greenhouse gas emission audit, and taxiway and apron improvements.
* McBride - $259,000 to rehabilitate runway and airside pavement.
* Vanderhoof - $330,984 for runway and apron lighting.
* Williams Lake - $83,750 for an apron lighting upgrade and two automatic security gates.
