Completion of Puvirnituq runway renovations postponed to 2025
Kativik Regional Government says further testing needs to be done on gravel to complete work
Puvirnituq airport’s runway was scheduled to be resurfaced this summer, but due to further gravel testing needing to be done, the project is set to be complete in summer 2025. (File photo by Sarah Rogers)
Completion of runway renovations at Puvirnituq’s airport has been delayed to summer 2025 to allow for more gravel testing.
Kativik Regional Government announced the postponement this week in a news release.
The Government of Quebec announced in April it was committing close to $90 million for many Nunavik airports to be revamped.
Between $25 million and $50 million was to be spent on Puvirnituq’s airport, specifically for renovations on its runway and fenced sections.
KRG announced last month that renovations for the airport were scheduled for July 15 to Sept. 30, and that air travel and flight scheduling might be impacted.
The renovation schedule is separated into four phases. Phase one, from July 15 to Aug. 6, is preparation and reloading work. The runway is closed during these days between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. with only medevac flights allowed.
Phase two, resurfacing of the runway, is postponed. But that won’t hold up phases three and four, which are scheduled to run from Aug. 14 to Sept. 24. This work will take place during the same overnight schedule, although daytime flights won’t be affected, the release said.
The provincial Ministry of Transport needs to test the gravel to “ensure it meets higher standards for quality and safety,” KRG said in the release. That testing will take all summer.
Once resurfacing is complete, Puvirnituq’s airport will have a significantly improved runway surface capable of accommodating more types of aircraft, KRG said.
So if $25 – $50 is being spent in PUV….what are the other communities getting? Nothing against PUV but maybe extend the Runway here as well so the Jet can Land??
mr . L where is Here ? . but without a doubt inukjuak is next to have its runway to be extended. its 2024 and time to have all large nunavik communities to get extended runways.
100% agree that the Inukjuak community needs a longer runway, the village is as big or even bigger now that PUV. A lot of Medevac too. The community would benefit from that for sure.