Features
Airports
Whitehorse airport construction should be finished by fall 2025: YG
March 10, 2025 By Talar Stockton, Local Journalism Initiative, Yukon News
Runway and taxiway upgrades, seen here on Sept. 3, 2024, are ongoing at Whitehorse's airport. (Photo: Jim Elliot/Yukon News) Heads up, jet-setters: construction at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport should be finished this fall, if all goes according to plan.
A March 3 release from the territorial government said the multi-year runway reconstruction plan, which started in 2023, is continuing on schedule. This summer will see crews reconstructing the southern half of the runway. The northern half had work done last summer.
The release from YG stated that the territorial government is investing $75.5 million to complete the airport runway reconstruction. The $75.5 million is part of 2025-2026 territorial budget, which is subject to approval by the legislature.
The project already has seen investment of $186 million from the federal government through the National Trade Corridors Fund. The Yukon government has invested $62 million on the project, reported by the News in January 2024.
According to a January 2024 statement on the airport, highways and public works minister Nils Clarke said “$160.6 million has been designated for the main runway replacement contract, secured by Flatiron Construction Company.” The minister was quoted at the time as saying that the remaining funds would fund “various airport projects that are currently in the planning phases.”
The News contacted the Department of Highways and Public Works to clarify whether the $75.5 million in the 2025-2026 budget included the previous investment of $62 million, or if they were separate investments. The department was not able to share the information with the News in time for publication.
Approximately 67 per cent of YG’s investments in the project will be recoverable through the National Trade Corridors fund, according to the March 3 release.
According to the main YG webpage for the airport updates, the final bits of construction happening at the airport this year will see not only work on the southern half of the main runway completed, but also “adding drainage ditches; extending taxiway E; installing approach lighting towers; and putting in new lights along the edges of the runway.”
The airport’s southern approach lighting system needs upgrades in order to comply with federal aviation regulations, according to a report by City of Whitehorse staff on Feb. 17. Federal aviation regulations determine the location, height, design, and light intensity of the towers to ensure safe landings.
YG has applied for a rezoning to permit the height of the towers — some of which will be as tall as 57 metres, according to the report.
“Without these upgrades, the airport’s main runway would experience a significantly reduced service level, impacting most jet aircraft,” reads the report.
Some of the towers will be located on the escarpment setback zone, but the report said assessments have concluded the area they are on is stable.
Joe Sparling, president and CEO of Air North, said passengers shouldn’t be affected by the construction.
During the construction period in the summer, Air North will be operating off of the airport’s shorter runway, as they did last summer, said Sparling in a March 6 interview.
Sparling said that the upgrades are part of a necessary rebuild of a runway that was constructed in the World War Two era.
He said some upgrades will enhance the operating capabilities of the airport, but the project is a needed refurbishment of the runway.
He commended YG for keeping the project running on time.
“They did a good job of staying on their schedule, and hopefully this summer will go as smoothly,” said Sparling. “And the end result will be a runway, main runway that’s going to be good for years to come.”