Pre-construction work for safety improvements to the Fond Du Lac Airport is underway. The construction, awarded to Saskatchewan-based Whitford Construction, comes in at a cost of $14 million. The safety improvements include: construction of turn pads at both ends of the runway; strengthening and re-surfacing of the runway, taxiway and apron; and replacing existing low-intensity lighting with high-intensity LED lights. Construction is scheduled for completion next fall.

The federal government has provided $12.1 million in funding over three years for the project. The Government of Saskatchewan will fund the remaining cost totaling $1.9 million as well as the ongoing cost of operations and maintenance averaging $215,000 a year.

Twenty five people were on board a West Wind Aviation plane when it crashed close to the Fond du Lac air strip shortly after take off December 13th, 2017. One person died from the injuries they sustained in the crash. The Transportation Safety Board said the plan was not de-iced before takeoff.

As well the Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation had lobbied Ottawa to improvements to the airport wanting the runway lengthened and widened. Chief Louie Mercredi said last year that he’d been asking for improvements since a week after the crash. He noted that the runway was originally built for light aircraft carrying up to nine passengers. Now, aircraft carrying as many as 50 people fly into the airfield and it’s the only way in or out for people, services, medication and food for most of the year.