Iqaluit airport gets $77M for improvements

Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq was in Iqaluit Thursday to announce $77 million from the federal government to improve the Iqaluit International Airport.

The P3 Canada Fund will cover part of the estimated $250 million to $300 million needed for the project.

The money will go towards a new terminal building, expanded aprons for planes to park, new lighting systems and an upgraded runway.

Construction is expected to get underway in 2014 and wrap up in 2017.

The private company which builds the airport will operate it for 30 years.

The bidding process just closed and the top three bidders will be announced in October.