Laforge-1 Airport

The airport was a private, temporary airstrip built for a specific purpose: to support the construction of the Laforge-1 hydroelectric generating station as part of the James Bay Project. It was closed due to the completion of this construction phase. The establishment of reliable, year-round ground access via the Trans-Taiga Road made the airport's continued operation unnecessary and economically unviable.

The airport is abandoned. Satellite imagery confirms the gravel runway remains visible but is unmaintained, with vegetation encroaching. It is considered unusable for aviation purposes. All associated support buildings and infrastructure have been removed or have fallen into disrepair. The site is now just a remote, deserted airstrip accessible by the nearby Trans-Taiga Road.

Laforge-1 Airport was a critical logistical hub for one of the largest engineering projects in history, the James Bay Hydroelectric Project. Its sole purpose was to facilitate the construction of the Laforge-1 dam and powerhouse in an extremely remote and inaccessible region of Quebec. The airport handled frequent charter flights transporting thousands of construction workers, engineers, and support staff to and from the site. It was also essential for flying in time-sensitive materials, specialized equipment, and essential supplies, enabling the massive project to stay on schedule. It primarily serviced rugged aircraft capable of operating from a gravel runway, such as the DHC-6 Twin Otter, Hawker Siddeley HS 748, and various cargo planes.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Laforge-1 Airport. Its original purpose is complete, and there is no new industrial, commercial, or community-based need for an airport in this specific remote location. Any future logistical needs for the generating station are met by the existing road network.