"Louisiana airport promoters say facility could open in 2010"

Saturday, March 22, 2003

Airport promoters say facility could open in 2010
By WILL SENTELL
The Baton Rouge (LA) Advocate


Backers of a giant airport near Donaldsonville said Friday they hope to win
a solid commitment from a private investor this year, start construction in
2007 and open in 2010.

"Everything looks quite positive at this point in time," said Glen Smith of
LaPlace, chairman of the Louisiana Airport Authority.

The authority is the chief promoter of the airport, which is supposed to
include links to water, rail and highways.

Backers say the facility would be the biggest economic development project
in state history. Critics say the project will never happen for a variety of
reasons, including lack of money from private investors.

The panel has picked a 25,000-acre site that covers parts of Iberville,
Ascension and Assumption parishes. Backers say initial costs will be about
$2 billion. Private investors are supposed to provide about 90 percent of
the money and taxpayers the rest.

Members of the authority outlined the status of the project Friday to
members of the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

Officials of the authority say 13 companies, both domestic and foreign, have
expressed interest in the project.

Glenda Jeansonne, executive director of the airport authority, said
investors are waiting for consultants to finish a detailed study of the site
-- known as a master plan -- so they can decide whether to take part.

That report is supposed to be finished by June.

"I know there is money out there to build," Jeansonne said. She said she
hopes to have a commitment letter from a private investor by the end of the
year.

Winfield Beyea, project manager, told the committee that the state hopes to
initially open 5,300 acres, including one airport runway. The next phase
encompasses another 5,700 acres and a second runway, he said.

Beyea said planners envision a 15,000-acre facility in 20 years. Whether and
when the other 10,000 acres is used depends on market conditions, he said.

Landowners, sugar cane farmers in the area and others oppose the airport.
Beyea said up to 440 people who live inside the site could be forced to
move. Another 1,670 people who live within one mile of the planned airport
would also be affected.

Les Ann Kirkland of Plaquemine, who opposes the airport, told the committee
that authority members have been "highhanded and dismissive" and have
distributed misleading pamphlets about the project.

"We are not going to go away," Kirkland said of airport opponents. "We are
not going to let this go."