Originally scheduled to take place in 2022, the Lacombe Regional Airport is getting some light upgrades this fall, after they received a grant from the Alberta governments Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP).

The money will be used to install some new solar lighting, which benefits the airport on two fronts, says Community Services Director for the City of Lacombe Brenda Vaughan.

“The solar lights will be the runway lighting, so they run alongside the runway on both sides. Solar, of course, decreased our reliance on non-renewable resources. And the other piece to that is that the service level of the airport is maintained for nighttime flying.”

The STIP grant provides a maximum of 75% of the project costs, which equites to $175,436.00

The City of Lacombe ($29,240.0), Lacombe County ($14,620.00), and the Lacombe Flying Club ($14,620.00) will cover the rest of $233,914.00 cost.

Those three groups formed a join oversight committee in 2015, with a goal of preserving and enhancing airport services for the entire region.

The new solar lights will be installed sometime this fall, with the request for proposal being sent out in the upcoming weeks.