La Grande Airport

Logistical and economic redundancy. This airstrip was a temporary, gravel runway built specifically for the initial construction phase of the La Grande-2 (LG-2) hydroelectric dam, now the Robert-Bourassa generating station. It was replaced by the larger, better-equipped La Grande Rivière Airport (CYGL), which was designed to provide permanent, long-term air service to the new town of Radisson and the entire Hydro-Québec complex.

The site is fully decommissioned as an airport and is not maintained for aviation. The outline of the former runway is still clearly visible on satellite imagery. It is now part of the industrial area surrounding the Robert-Bourassa generating station, managed by Hydro-Québec. The strip itself appears to be used as a local access road, a storage and laydown area for industrial equipment, or is simply unused land.

This airstrip, known as the LG-2 airstrip, was of critical importance to the James Bay Project, one of the largest hydroelectric engineering projects in history. Opened in the early 1970s, it was the primary logistical lifeline for the massive LG-2 construction site before permanent road access was completed. The airport handled frequent flights of heavy transport aircraft, such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Boeing 737 combi aircraft, which ferried thousands of workers, heavy machinery, and vital supplies to the extremely remote location. It was instrumental in allowing the project to begin on schedule.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening this airstrip. The nearby La Grande Rivière Airport (CYGL) is a fully operational and modern airport with a paved runway, instrument landing systems, and regular passenger service. It comprehensively serves the needs of Hydro-Québec, the local population, and regional industries, making the reopening of the old, temporary LG-2 strip unnecessary and economically unviable.