Map courtesy MSY.
Shovel photo courtesy MSY. Pictured from left to right: Secretary Glenn Ledet (LADOTD), Councilmember Arita Bohannan (Jefferson Parish – District 4), Councilmember Dee Dunn (City of Kenner – District 1), Councilmember Byron Lee (Jefferson Parish – District 3), Director of Aviation Kevin Dolliole (Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport), Chairman Judge Michael G. Bagneris (New Orleans Aviation Board), Councilmember Eugene Green (City of New Orleans, Chair of Transportation and Airport Committee), New Orleans Aviation Board Member Gary Smith, Sr., and Justin Barker (Manager, FAA Louisiana Airport District Office).
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- $84.5M project to build airport shuttle connector road
- Funded largely by $65M in FAA infrastructure grants
- Travel times for 9,000 daily riders expected to be cut in half
- Roadway will support future Baton Rouge–New Orleans rail link
Officials have broken ground on an $84.5 million project at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport that will build a dedicated roadway to streamline shuttle service between parking garages, the rental car center and the airport terminal.
The Express Shuttle Connector Road Project, announced in late August by the City of New Orleans and the New Orleans Aviation Board, is aimed at cutting travel times for nearly 9,000 daily shuttle users while easing traffic congestion on nearby public roads.
More than $65 million of the project is funded through Federal Aviation Administration grants under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, according to the airport. The remainder will be covered by state and local contributions.
When complete, the connector will allow shuttles to bypass Veterans Boulevard and other surface streets, where buses currently face up to four traffic lights in each direction. That route can stretch travel times to 14 to 18 minutes. The airport estimates the new roadway will cut those trips in half, reducing shuttle rides to 7 to 10 minutes.
This project is a game-changer for the New Orleans airport, said Michael Bagneris, chair of the New Orleans Aviation Board. He said it will eliminate traffic delays and unpredictable shuttle times while laying the groundwork for future regional transportation connections.
Construction will be completed in two phases. The first, set to finish by the end of 2026, will create the northern portion of the road, allowing shuttles to bypass Veterans Boulevard. The second phase, expected by late 2027, will extend the roadway south near the former terminal and Airline Highway.
The project is also designed to support long-term regional connectivity. Plans call for the new roadway to link with the proposed Baton Rouge-to-New Orleans rail line, which will include a stop at the airport. Officials said the infrastructure could eventually accommodate light rail or autonomous vehicle transit between the airport’s north and south campuses.
The investment positions Louis Armstrong Airport for the next generation of connectivity, said Kevin Dolliole, director of aviation. He said they’re improving efficiency now while building the foundation for future transportation systems.
Louis Armstrong International handled more than 13 million passengers in 2023, underscoring the need for expanded infrastructure to meet growing demand.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
