New Iqaluit airport terminal construction on schedule

Construction of Iqaluit's new airport terminalis on schedule, according to John Hawkins, director ofIqaluit'sairport.

"It's progressing really well," he said. "It's a little bit surprising. Sometimes things fall a little behind but this one is on schedule right now."

The $300 million construction effort began last July at a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Nunavut's premier, PeterTaptuna, as well as representatives from the various companies involved in the project.

Currentlyworkers are installing a facade on the empty metal skeleton of the new building andpouring cement for the building's new floor.

This latest round of construction began in April, with the erecting of the metal struts which form the new terminal's basic structure.

The building is expected to be finished by the end of August 2017, according to Hawkins. Improvements also need to be made to runways and roads.A new culvert will also be installed at Airport Creek to allow the construction of a new parking lot.

Hawkins says the entire project is slated to be completed by the end of 2017.