Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport to Close After Seven Decades of Operation

Unique Border Runway Airport Faces Closure Due to Low Use and High Maintenance Costs

The Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport, renowned for having its runway straddle the US-Canada border, will cease operations on Friday after seven decades of service. Located near Roseau, Minnesota, and Piney, Manitoba, this small but unique airport has played a key role for travelers between the two nations.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced earlier this month that the airport’s closure was due to low usage and escalating maintenance costs, which included runway, apron, and terminal reconstruction. The international agreement that allowed the airport to operate is set to expire on December 26, and neither country plans to renew it.

Opened in 1953 with a grass runway, the Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport was upgraded in 1978 to include a paved runway. It was one of six border airports in the US and Canada, but the only one with a paved runway. Over the years, it was commonly used by Americans traveling to Canada for hunting and fishing.

A notable aspect of the airport was the special international agreement that permitted staff to cross between the US and Canada without undergoing the usual customs procedures. However, with its closure, the airport’s unique legacy comes to an end.