The Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport, a unique airstrip straddling the international border between the United States and Canada, is set to close permanently on Friday after seven decades of operation, The Associated Press reports.
The airport, located near Roseau, Minnesota, and Piney, Manitoba, is known for its runway that crosses the border.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) announced earlier this month that the airport would cease operations, citing extremely low usage and significant maintenance costs. These expenses included necessary reconstruction work on the runway, apron, and terminal. The international agreement that allows the airport to operate is set to expire on December 26th and will not be renewed by either the US or Canadian airport owners.
Opened in 1953 with a grass runway, the Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport was later paved in 1978. While there are six airports in total that straddle the US-Canada border, this is the only one that features a paved runway. It has historically served as a convenient access point for American travelers visiting Canada for hunting and fishing trips.
A distinctive feature of the airport was the special international agreement that allowed airport staff to freely cross the border between the two countries for their work duties, bypassing typical customs procedures.
