Main runway at Regina Airport reopens as construction nears end

The main runway project at Regina International Airport is almost complete.

As of 8:30 a.m. Friday, the main runway has been reopened.

The $26 million runway overlay project for YQR’s main runway began in May and has now been “substantively” completed, according to James Bogusz, president and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority.

Bogusz said air traffic and flight paths are now returning to normal, and expressed his appreciation to those living in the areas affected by the alternate paths.

“We really want to thank (residents) who live east of the airport, including the Lakeview neighbourhood,” Bogusz said.

“We know that there has been a massive change to the flight patterns, as we’ve been using our secondary runway throughout the summer.”

He added that flight patterns will return to normal immediately.

“There will still be a little bit more work to do into the fall — we have some lighting system upgrades which are still underway — but as far the public is concerned, it’s going to seem like things are back to normal.”

In May, a construction worker died while working on the project in what was described as a “serious accident.”

The worker’s identity wasn’t released, and federal occupational health and safety inspectors began an investigation.