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Airport aiming to start work on new terminal next year

After years of talk and consultation, the Thompson Regional Airport Authority (TRAA) hopes to put shovels in the ground for its new terminal building within the next year.

After years of talk and consultation, the Thompson Regional Airport Authority (TRAA) hopes to put shovels in the ground for its new terminal building within the next year.

TRAA president and CEO Curtis Ross provided this information during a May 30 meeting at the Thompson Regional Community Centre, where the public was invited to provide feedback on the latest design proposals as the TRAA heads into the final planning stages.

Ross told attendees that this project is moving ahead out of necessity, since the current airport’s foundation is severely compromised due to the prevalence of permafrost on the southern side of the building.

“Our airport’s falling into the ground,” he said. “Essentially, one half of the building is sinking and it’s going to continue to sink.”

Ross also mentioned that the building’s aging infrastructure isn’t up to code anymore and its interiors are too cramped to meet the current and long-term needs of the community.

“The building that you walk into, we’ve done as much as we can with it,” he said. “When Transport Canada actually handed it to us back in March of 2000, the economic life of it was only supposed to be another seven years. We’ve far exceeded that.”

Ross went on to say that the TRAA has nearly finalized their plans to build a new $70-million, 42,240-square-foot facility only a short distance away from the current building. Attendees even got a virtual tour of the new airport through a video simulation, which gave them a better idea of what this building is supposed to look like, inside and out.

On top of putting a greater emphasis on passenger amenities and concession areas, this virtual tour highlighted the TRAA’s goal of bringing their airport into the 21st century, with a proper baggage claim area, a new elders’/medevac lounge and ample queuing space for check-ins and security screenings.

“What we’re hoping is people will not only come out here to fly,” said Ross. “But if you want to come out on a Sunday afternoon and have a sandwich or a coffee or sit out there and watch airplanes, you can come out here and enjoy yourself from that perspective too.“

While Ross remains confident that this project will move forward, he has no illusions about the fact that they have a tough road ahead, especially since the TRAA has to contend with building ancillary pieces of infrastructure outside of the terminal itself.

“Most airports don’t have to build a sewage lagoon. We have to build our own sewage lagoon and now we have to expand it to accommodate all this development,” he said, also referencing the fact that they are starting construction on a new water treatment plant in the fall.

“Most airports don’t have to build a water treatment plant. They’re usually connected to a city or a potable source.”

Ross said the airport is a key piece of transportation infrastructure not just for Thompson, but for Northern Manitoba in general.

“What’s happened to the railway going to Churchill is going to happen to this airport if we don’t build a new terminal,” he said, referencing the town’s ongoing isolation since rail service was discontinued in May 2017 due to damage to the line from flooding.

“I don’t want Thompson Airport to be that and I won’t let it be that.”

The TRAA is hoping to finalize their development plans by December of this year, which would pave the way for them breaking ground on this new terminal by sometime in 2019.

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