Pangnirtung, Nunavut, looks at location for new runway

A longer airport runway in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, could mean cheaper airfare, more jobs and new housing possibilities says the hamlet's senior administrative officer.

Nunavut's Department of Economic Development and Transportation is working with an aviation consulting company to conduct aerial and geological studies on a mountain-top location between eight and 10 kilometres from downtown Pangnirtung.

"We're not actually talking of moving a mountain," said Shawn Trepanier, Pangnirtung's senior administrative officer.

"The top is fairly level. Though we will need some gravel to compact and make sure it's a proper depth," he said.

"It's probably the best location."

'Very expensive'

Pangnirtung, pop. 1,500, lies alongside a fiord just below the Arctic Circle, at the southern entrance to Auyuittuq National Park. 

Trepanier said there is no more room to extend the current 900 metre (3,000 feet) runway, which runs through the middle of the hamlet.

The new one would be more than 1500 metres (5,000 feet) long and more than 900 metres (3,000 feet) above sea level, avoiding the low clouds and fog that can delay aircraft and allowing for larger planes to take off and land.

Trepanier estimates it will cost roughly $175 million to $200 million, with half of that going toward building an access road up to the new airport.

"The project is very expensive. And I think it will be probably one of the largest capital projects in Nunavut," Trepanier said.

The project has yet to be identified in Nunavut's master capital budget and will require funding from both territorial and federal governments. 

New homes, more jobs 

Although it comes with a hefty price tag, Trepanier said the new runway will offer a number of benefits for the hamlet, including allowing aircraft like a Hercules and larger turboprop planes to take off and land.

"It's going to be more reliable transportation because the weather will be much easier. We can get larger aircraft in here so cheaper seats or cheaper airfares between the communities, along with possibly more economic benefits for the community, like more jobs will be created because it is a longer runway. We'll have to hire some more road maintainers," he said.

The construction of a new runway will also leave the old one open to development.

"Right now we can't expand that much because there's not a lot of room left in Pangnirtung," Trepanier said, adding once a new runway is built, the old one could be turned into new commercial and housing developments, including 100 to 150 homes over a 20-year period.

"There's a huge economic impact for the community."