The provincial government was in town yesterday to announce they’re spending over 420 million dollars for transportation infrastructure in Northern Manitoba.

 

This includes the Thompson Regional Airport, which is getting 15 million dollars to build a new terminal building and redevelop both airside and landside infrastructure.

 

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk [pih-NOOK] explains while on the surface the airport looks fine, underneath the structure is where the signs of wear-and-tear are showing, attributing it to the muskeg the airport was built on.

 

The new terminal is also said to offer culturally sensitive air travel experience for Indigenous peoples, including a dedicated area for elders.

 

Airports in northern First Nations communities are also getting money to upgrade, including Gods Lake Narrows, Red Sucker Lake, Shamattawa, and St. Teresa Point.

 

Additionally, 8.5 million is going towards upgrading Provincial Road 620, which connects Provincial Road 391 to Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and 4.5 million will be used to build a new airport access road off Provincial Road 391 for the Thompson airport.