Morehouse Memorial Airport has secured funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that will build a fence designed to increase airport security.
The City of Bastrop will be awarded $310,000 to build a fence around the entire airport property. The grant is being disbursed by the DOT through the Federal Aviation Administration and is intended to help the City of Bastrop install perimeter fencing which will minimize unauthorized access to the airport operations area.
“It will definitely increase the level of safety, not just from vandalism but will also cut down on incursions with wildlife,” Airport Manager Brent Elton said. “What’s important to that is its what they refer to as a deer fence, or wildlife fence. There’s plenty of wildlife in the area.”
Elton said collisions between deer and aircraft is a concern, but other animals also frequent the airport. Recently, a wild turkey was on the runway while a plane landed. The new fence will reduce such incidents.
Additionally, Elton said, the fence may make the airport more attractive for plane storage and hangar construction.
Elton said the lowest bid for the project was $248,000, but a portion of the money will to do Denman Engineering for work on the project and a location manager.
“They actually will have an inspector on-site during the entire process,” Elton said.
“I am grateful that the City of Bastrop will have the necessary funds so these improvements can be made,” said U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander. “By improving our current infrastructure foundations, we are also making an investment in our local economies. This airport has great potential and this federal funding will only help further its progress.
Bastrop, La. —
