The federal government is investing over $2.5 million to upgrade the airfield lighting at the Yellowknife Airport, an overhaul government officials say will increase passenger safety, save energy costs and strengthen infrastructure at the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 busiest airport.

The federal minister of national revenue, Diane Lebouthillier, made the announcement during a press conference at the Yellowknife Airport Sunday afternoon, where she was joined by Liberal MP for NWT Michael McLeod and GNWT minister of Infrastructure Wally Schumann.

The two-year project aims to rehabilitate the airfield lighting at the airport by SA国际影视传媒渋nstalling elevated high-intensity LED edge and threshold lights and wind direction indicators on Runway 16-34,SA国际影视传媒� the Yellowknife AirportSA国际影视传媒檚 primary runway, according to a news release from the Government of Canada.

The federal funds come from Transport CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP).

Minister Schumann, who called the capitalSA国际影视传媒檚 airport the SA国际影视传媒済ateway to our communities and southern destinations,SA国际影视传媒� announced the GNWT will contribute SA国际影视传媒�15 per cent of the total project, bringing the value of the project over $3 million.SA国际影视传媒�

The project will also see SA国际影视传媒渉igh-intensity lightsSA国际影视传媒� implemented on the approach to Runway 34 at the Yellowknife Airport.

Schumann said the overhaul will see the current incandescent lighting system replaced with an improved LED system.

SA国际影视传媒淲hile todaySA国际影视传媒檚 funding announcement helps us strengthen our airport infrastructure in the NWT, it does more than that,SA国际影视传媒� said Schumann.

The lighting face-lift will also, he said, will mean SA国际影视传媒渓ower energy costs through the reduction of energy consumption.SA国际影视传媒�

Schumann said the funding will ultimately SA国际影视传媒渟upport economic opportunities through the central hub of the NWT airport system,SA国际影视传媒� and will strengthen traveller confidence.

Since ACAPSA国际影视传媒檚 launch in 1995, the Yellowknife Airport has received nearly $10 million in federal dollars for six safety projects. One of those projects saw the purchase of a rescue and firefighting vehicle.

The federal government has invested more than $880 million in APAC projects at 186 airports across Canada.