Airport with runway straddling the border of the U.S. and Canada will close

ROSEAU, Minn. — The Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport has a unique claim to fame: its runway straddles the border of the US and Canada. But after 70 years in operation, the small airport near Roseau, Minnesota, and Piney, Manitoba, Canada, will close for good Friday.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation said in a news release earlier this month that the airport was “very underutilized and faced major maintenance costs, including reconstruction of the runway, apron and terminal. The international agreement required to operate the airport expires on December 26 and will not be renewed by either airport owner.”

The airport opened in 1953 with a grass runway – a paved runway was added in 1978. It is one of six airports across the border, but the only one with a paved runway. It was often used by Americans who traveled to Canada to hunt and fish.

Under the international agreement, airport staff are allowed to travel between the two countries for work without going through the typical customs process.