Port Radium Airstrip

Economic reasons. The airstrip's existence was entirely dependent on the Port Radium mining operations. The original Eldorado Mine, a primary source of uranium, closed in 1960. The site was briefly reopened by Echo Bay Mines for silver and copper extraction from 1976 to 1982. When the mine closed permanently in 1982 due to exhausted ore deposits and low metal prices, the supporting airstrip was abandoned as it no longer had a purpose.

The airstrip is abandoned and unmaintained. The entire Port Radium townsite and mine have been decommissioned and dismantled. The area has undergone extensive environmental remediation managed by the Government of Canada to address radioactive contamination from the uranium tailings. The former runway is still visible from satellite imagery but is considered unusable for standard aviation purposes. The Canadian Flight Supplement lists the aerodrome identifier CA-0293 as permanently closed. The site may occasionally be accessed by helicopter for ongoing environmental monitoring.

The Port Radium Airstrip was a historically significant and critical piece of infrastructure with global impact. Its primary role was to serve the Eldorado Mine on the shore of Great Bear Lake.

Key Operations and Significance:
1. **Manhattan Project:** The airstrip was a vital logistical link for transporting personnel, supplies, and, most importantly, uranium ore concentrates from the Eldorado Mine. This uranium was a key component used by the United States in the development of the first atomic bombs during World War II.
2. **Cold War:** After the war, the mine and airstrip continued to be crucial, supplying uranium for the burgeoning nuclear programs of the United States and other Western powers during the Cold War.
3. **Northern Lifeline:** As a remote, subarctic operation, the airstrip was the primary year-round connection to the outside world. It facilitated the movement of workers, mail, fresh food, and emergency medical evacuations. Operations were conducted by bush planes and other rugged aircraft capable of landing on its gravel runway.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Port Radium Airstrip. The industrial and economic reasons for its existence are gone, as the mine is permanently closed and the townsite has been removed. Given the extreme remoteness of the location and the lack of any local community or industry, there is no economic or logistical justification for rebuilding and maintaining an airport at this site.