Ascension, St. James Airport Gets More Land

GONZALES, LA (AP) — The Louisiana Regional Airport just outside Gonzales grew by about 30 acres last week.
The Advocate’s Ellyn Couvillion reports the Ascension-St. James Airport and Transportation Authority, which operates the airport, purchased 28.3 acres of undeveloped woodlands south of the airport for just over $677,000.
Jared Amato, a member of the airport authority, says the additional land brings the size of the airport to 180 acres.
Janet Gonzales, the general manager of the airport, says the money to purchase the property came from a state Department of Transportation and Development grant.
Gonzales estimates there are an average of 600 takeoffs and landings of small aircraft at the airport each week.
Another airport project, the extension of its runway to 5,000 feet, was completed in April after more than a year of construction.