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Jun 27, 2022 (newstodate): On the agenda since at least 2003, Greenland's longest road project is entering its final stage..
Greenland's government has now finally approved the environmental assessment report on the impact of the road construction, allowing the construction of the last remaining stage to be started.
The 170 km long road will provide access to Kangerlussuaq Airport from coastal Sisimiut, allowing exporters of fresh fish to truck shipments into Kangerlussuaq/Sdr Stromfjord Airport for flights to European and other markets.
Trucking will take 2.5-3 hours, while exporters in the Sisimiut region are now barred from taking their shipments by air to outside consumer markets, relying on exports of frozen fish by sea transportation instead.
In addition, the proposed road will also facilitate easier imports of goods from Denmark and other markets.
While the road seems to become a reality, the timing seems a bit odd as the airport infrastructure of Greenland is changing dramatically with the opening of new Transatlantic airports at Nuuk and Ilulissat by 2024, shifting the passenger traffic away from Kangerlussuaq Airport.
In September 2019 an agreement was inked between the governments of Denmark and Greenland to the effect that Kangerlussuaq Airport will remain in service, with the Danish Ministry of Defense to fund the operation.
To secure the future of Kangerlussuaq in the longer term will require massive maintenance and reconstruction works on the airport's runway that is impacted by changes in the permafrost conditions causing cracks in the runway surface.
Besides, Kangerlusssuaq Airport may receive direct US investments reflecting its importance for US military positioning in the Arctic region that is gaining importance as more maritime lanes are opening while the region's strategic position is attracting increased attention from many sides.