By Emilee Calametti | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Reconstructing existing terminal chillers and design of terminal reconstruction at Shreveport Regional Airport will be aided by $1.75 million from grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration.
Additional fiscal assistance now totals $11.76 million in grant funding via the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and the Airport Infrastructure Grant program. Seven cities in Louisiana will get funds for airport enhancements.
“Airports are critical to Louisiana’s economy, commerce, and tourism,” U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said in a release. “We secured this funding to make our airports safer, more modern, and ready to meet future demands.”
Shreveport, third-largest city in Louisiana, was among the nine cities receiving federal funding for airport improvements. Originally, Louisiana was receiving $5.2 million, with Shreveport Airport Authority receiving $517,750 to reseal 34,000 square yards of pavement.
The $1.75 million includes $1.03 million to reconstruct existing terminal chillers that have reached the end of their life cycle. Another $387,577 will fund the design of nearly 9,000 square feet of terminal reconstruction, including the Federal Inspection Station.
The remaining $339,153 is for terminal expansion, totaling 20,000 square feet, with new gates, passenger facilities and the relocation of the air traffic control towers.
Other airports are being helped in New Orleans, Lafayette, Rayville, Reserve, Oakdale and Baton Rouge.
The largest amount of funding was a $6.63 million grant awarded to the Lafayette Airport Commission for shifting Taxiway B by approximately 70 feet. This shift will bring Lafayette Regional and Paul Fournet Field up to standards.
Lakefront Management Authority of New Orleans received the second-highest amount. A $2.15 million grant will help enable rehabilitation of 2,893 feet of Taxiway B at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport.
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport received $72,404 to reconstruct 300 square yards of threshold light bar pavement on Runway 22R.