Sarnia's Chris Hadfield Airport is getting some much needed upgrades thanks to $583,665 in federal government funding.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Kate Young was on hand to make the announcement Tuesday morning.
The London West MP said a few safety improvement projects will get underway soon.
"This work includes the rehabilitation of Taxiway B by grinding down the existing surface and replacing it with 100 mm of asphalt," said Young.
"It also includes the rehabilitation of one aircraft parking stand area of the main apron by replacing the asphalt and granular base, and removing six existing guidance signs and replacing them with nine new ones. This might not sound all that sexy but, believe me, when it comes to airports this is so important."
Airport Operator Clare Webb welcomed the funding and said the start date for the project will be weather permitting.
"All of the contractual things have been done, and the engineering study has been done," said Webb. "So, there will be some bids on it to make sure we get the best price on it. Our engineering company will deal with that, I would say as early as the summer, to get at it."
Webb said the upgrades are much-needed, noting some of them haven't been done in about 12 years.
He said the runway is in good shape, and likely won't need to be upgraded for eight to 10 years.
The money falls under the Airports Capital Assistance Program and will cover the entire cost of upgrades.
Since the program's inception, Young says Chris Hadfield Airport has received $3.1 million for ten safety projects.