Midway Airport

The airport was built during World War II exclusively to support the Canadian Oil (CANOL) Project. This massive project involved constructing a pipeline to transport oil from Norman Wells, NWT, to a refinery in Whitehorse, YT, for the war effort. When WWII ended in 1945, the pipeline was immediately deemed uneconomical and unnecessary. The entire CANOL project was shut down and abandoned, and with it, the support infrastructure, including the Midway Lake Aerodrome, was no longer needed.

The site is completely abandoned and has been for over 75 years. The gravel airstrip is still visible from the Dempster Highway and on satellite imagery as a long, straight clearing adjacent to Midway Lake. It is unmaintained and is slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding subarctic vegetation. It serves no aviation purpose and is considered a historical point of interest for travelers on the Dempster Highway, representing a remnant of the WWII-era CANOL project.

Midway Lake Aerodrome's sole historical significance is its role in the CANOL Project. It was one of a series of rudimentary landing strips constructed along the pipeline and access road route (now the Dempster Highway). Its operation was critical for transporting personnel, mail, fresh food, and emergency supplies to the remote construction and pumping station camps. It served as a vital logistical link in one of the largest and most challenging engineering projects of the Second World War, enabling construction to proceed in the harsh, isolated northern wilderness.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Midway Lake Aerodrome. Its remote location, the immense cost of rehabilitation and maintenance, and the lack of any local economic or strategic demand make its reactivation unfeasible. Regional air transportation needs are met by established airports in larger communities like Inuvik, NWT, and Dawson City, YT.