The District of Squamish is working on plans to restore the runway at the Squamish airport.
The runway requires substantial repairs due to the number of cracks and the deteriorating condition of the asphalt.
The District has applied for a grant under the British Columbia Air Access Program) to rehabilitate the airport runway.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure operates the air access program that provides money to improve airports in the province.
Projects in the past have ranged from minor upgrades like vegetation management on runways to new terminals in Qualicum.
Last year, Chetwynd Airport for example, was given $1.3 million to repave the runaway that involved fixing the pavement.
The cost of rehabilitating the runway at Squamish airport will be $550,000, of which the air access grant will cover 75 per cent of the cost.
The district would have to come up with the remaining $137,500, and district plans to pay that through the Squamish reserves.
That money has already been accounted for in the 2019-2023 Financial Plan.
The airport is owned by the District, and is an important emergency asset for the Sea to Sky Corridor, as well as has economic and employment value, said Christina Moore, communications manager at the district.
She said the district will know in the late spring if it was successful with the application.
“If we are not successful, we will need to develop a new approach to fund the project,” she said.
Cover photo: COPA national
