Thunder Bay, Timmins airports under expansion.

• Position: Transportation Report

Several Northern Ontario airports have received a facelift or been expanded during the past few months. The work done includes the installation of navigational systems in Elliot Lake and an almost compete overhaul of facilities in Thunder Bay.

The $45-million expansion and renovation project at the Lakehead airport has been under way for about two months.

The project includes the construction of a new 8,850-square-metre, three-storey terminal, an enlargement of the current apron for incoming and departing flights, the installation of service lines, an expansion of parking facilities and the construction of a hangar. The former traffic services building will be demolished.

The work is scheduled to be completed in time for the Nordic World Ski Championships in 1995.

The Thunder Bay airport handled 580,000 passengers last year - ranking the facility as the 16th-busiest in Canada.

TIMMINS

Earlier this fall work finally began on a long-awaited expansion of the Timmins Airport.

The project, which started in early November, is estimated at $5 million. Performed by Matheson-based Hembruff & Dambrowitz Ltd., the work includes the construction of a 902-square-metre addition to the existing terminal building.

The new section will accommodate expansions of the arrivals, administration, public waiting and customs areas, as well as the installation of a new baggage handling system. The airport is being made handicapped accessible, and there will be improvements to the airport's restaurant as well.

The work is expected to take about 18 months to complete.

Transport Canada estimates that the expansion will allow the airport, built in 1973, to handle the volume of passengers expected for the next 25 years. Last year the airport handled about 185,000 passengers on scheduled flights.

ELLIOT LAKE

Major changes to the Elliot Lake airport, which handles an average of 400 passengers per month, are scheduled to be completed this month.

A 1,000-foot extension to the airport's 3,500-foot runway is nearing completion. In addition, several navigational aids such as omni-directional-approach lighting and a visual approach system are being installed.

Airport manager Irma Wilson said that the systems upgrading and runway extension will allow the facility to accommodate such aircraft as Dash-8s and small jets.

"Lear jets use the airport now, but it's a little tight," she said.

Local economic development officials had pushed for the airport projects, citing the need for...