Demolition Underway at Baton Rouge Airport for Runway Safety Upgrades

(BATON ROUGE) Demolition crews are tearing down buildings along Plank Road as Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport advances a federally backed safety project tied to the Runway 13/31 Safety Area and RPZ Improvements. Work began in March 2025 and is scheduled to finish within 300 calendar days, placing completion in early 2026. The airport says the clearance work is required before crews can expand and improve the runway safety area and the runway protection zone—two zones the Federal Aviation Administration uses to reduce risk near active runways and protect people and property on the ground.

Contractors have removed or are removing structures at the former Plank Road Shopping Center, including the site of the Bella Noche nightclub, and several nearby parcels acquired by the airport in December 2023. The estimated construction budget for the demolition phase is $1.5–2 million, with no allowances. The project does not require TWIC cards for workers. Hazardous material abatement—covering asbestos, lead, and other identified substances—is underway, with disposal carried out per detailed specifications.

The work is part of a broader program to bring the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport’s airfield into closer alignment with FAA design and safety standards. According to officials, the demolition clears the way to reshape ground levels, improve drainage, and open space in the Runway 13/31 Safety Area so aircraft have more protection if they overrun or veer off the runway. It also supports a cleaner Runway Protection Zone (RPZ), the trapezoid-shaped ground area off each runway end where airports seek to limit development to reduce harm in the event of an incident. Funding is supported by federal grants, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—formally the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—and the Airport Improvement Program administered by the FAA. Readers can review the FAA’s program overview here: FAA Airport Improvement Program.

Project Scope and Schedule

The airport’s demolition plan covers multiple addresses the Greater Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport District now owns. The listed properties include:

• Hancock Whitney, 8166 Plank Road
• Plank Crossing, 8150–8190 Plank Road
• K & J Carwash, 4745 Hooper Road
• Cajun Cowboy (Parcel A), 8194 Plank Road

After demolition, crews will:

• Remove concrete foundations, parking lots, and light poles.
• Grade and level the sites to ensure proper drainage.
• Disconnect and cap utilities at the property line (with no plans to repower).
• Remove existing fencing and return it to the owner.
• Dispose of other equipment per the contractor specifications.

Important project milestones:

1. Mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit: March 25, 2025
2. Bids opened: April 8, 2025
3. Selected contractor received a 300-day performance window from the start date
4. Status as of September 30, 2025: demolition ongoing; hazardous material abatement and site clearing in progress

For technical details or subcontracting questions:
– Design and engineering contact: Meyer Engineers, Ltd. — 504-885-9892
– DBE coordinator: Kennyata Sparks — 225-362-9543 (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise inquiries)

Why Runway 13/31 Safety Work Matters

Runway safety areas and RPZs are long-standing FAA design elements intended to reduce the chance of serious damage during runway excursions and to lower the risk to people and property near runway ends.

Key reasons for this project:

• Clear buildings within approach paths and adjoining parcels so the airport can reshape land and keep it free of uses that increase risk.
• Provide space for engineered safety features and improved stormwater management.
• Align the airfield with FAA geometry and setback distances for safer operations.

This local effort mirrors a national trend: airports across the U.S. are using federal funding through AIP and recent infrastructure acts to address legacy constraints near runways.

Community Impacts and Environmental Controls

Short-term impacts:

• Residents will experience demolition-related disruption—hauling, grading, and construction traffic near access roads.
• Passengers are unlikely to notice significant changes; the runway remains in service and most activity is off paved surfaces.

Long-term benefits:

• Safer runway ends
• Improved reliability for airline schedules, general aviation, and emergency flights
• Better stormwater flow and reduced ponding, important in Louisiana’s storm-prone climate

Environmental and safety measures:

• Hazardous material abatement (asbestos, lead, etc.) follows strict rules and disposal specifications.
• Disposal records will be part of project closeout documentation.
• Contractors must restore grades to manage rainwater flow and reduce ponding.

Officials emphasize hazardous material abatement is closely monitored and that utilities will be permanently cut at property lines to prevent unsafe reactivation—standard practice when parcels become airfield safety buffers.

Coordination, Oversight, and Funding

• The selection of Meyer Engineers, Ltd. reflects the need for specialized airfield experience to match FAA design geometry.
• City-Parish officials are involved in permitting and local oversight.
• Funding sources include federal grants tied to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program.

Contractor and Public Notes

• There is no separate fee for local residents related to this demolition work.
• No special public pass is required to view public areas.
• For contractors: typical insurance and performance obligations apply, but no TWIC cards are required.
• The 300-day contract window creates a tight schedule to complete demolition, grading, and hazardous material removal before the next phase.

How to Stay Informed

Community members seeking updates can contact Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport administration or use the project contacts listed above (Meyer Engineers, Ltd. and Kennyata Sparks). Local businesses affected by the acquisitions began transitioning after airport ownership transferred in December 2023, synchronizing turnover with bid and construction schedules.

The airport and partners describe this as a safety-first investment. When complete, the cleared and restored parcels will help the airport meet FAA expectations for the Runway 13/31 Safety Area and improve RPZ conditions, giving Baton Rouge a safer airfield foundation for years to come.