Kilometer 176 Airport

The airport was closed due to redundancy and logistical consolidation. It was a private support airstrip for the nearby McArthur River uranium mine. Its purpose was superseded by the construction and full operation of the larger, paved, and better-equipped McArthur River Airport (ICAO: CKB8), which is located closer to the main mine site and can handle larger aircraft and more frequent traffic. The closure was an economic and operational decision to centralize air services.

The site is abandoned and defunct. Current satellite imagery confirms the location contains a visible but completely unmaintained and overgrown former runway. The gravel strip is being reclaimed by the surrounding boreal forest, with significant vegetation growth across its surface. There are no buildings, aircraft, or any signs of current activity. It is not used for any purpose.

Kilometer 176 Airport was a private aerodrome owned and operated by Cameco Corporation, a major uranium mining company. Its name derives from its location at the 176-kilometer mark of Saskatchewan Highway 955. The airport's sole purpose was to provide critical logistical support during the initial exploration, site development, and construction phases of the McArthur River uranium mine in the mid-to-late 1990s. Its approximately 3,000-foot gravel runway was essential for flying in personnel, light equipment, and supplies to the remote location before more permanent infrastructure, including the main mine airport, was completed.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Kilometer 176 Airport. It is considered permanently closed. The logistical needs of the regional mining operations are fully and more efficiently served by the permanent airports at McArthur River (CKB8) and Key Lake (CYKJ). There is no economic or operational justification to invest in clearing, repairing, and re-certifying this small, remote airstrip.