Marksville Airport plans $6 million runway extension

Project would extend runway to 5,000 feet; DOTD says airport funds cannot be redirected to parish roads

By Amy Ducote

A proposed runway extension at Marksville Municipal Airport would increase the airport’s main runway from 3,799 feet to 5,000 feet as part of a project currently estimated at approximately $6 million.

The newspaper submitted questions about the project to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Erin Buchanan, public information officer for LA DOTD, provided details on the proposed scope, cost, intended aircraft and current funding status.

The project has generated local questions after Louisiana’s 2026 capital outlay budget included $2.44 million for “Runway Extension Marksville Municipal Airport, Planning and Construction” under the Avoyelles Parish Airport Authority.

State records show that amount includes $2.2 million in Priority 5 general obligation bond funding and $240,000 in State General Fund non-recurring revenue.

However, the $2.44 million does not represent the total estimated cost of the project.

Buchanan said the Avoyelles Parish Airport Authority submitted an application estimating the full runway-extension project at $6 million. DOTD has not received a complete funding plan showing how the remaining cost would be financed.

Runway grows 1,201 ft.

The proposal calls for extending Runway 4/22 by 1,201 feet to the southwest, taking the runway from its current 3,799 feet to 5,000 feet.

According to Buchanan, the Airport Authority told DOTD that several corporate entities in the vicinity of Marksville have expressed a desire for a longer runway to accommodate larger aircraft.

The Airport Authority’s application identified aircraft including the CE-680, Cessna Citation Latitude, Cessna Citation Longitude, Lear 35, charter aircraft, TBM 940, PA-32RT-300 and Lancair Evolution.

Several of those aircraft are business or corporate aircraft, including the Citation Latitude, Citation Longitude and Lear 35.

Is $2.44 M enough?

At this point, no.

The Airport Authority’s application estimates the project at $6 million, while the 2026 capital outlay budget provides $2.44 million toward planning and construction.

DOTD has not received a complete funding plan identifying how much of the project would ultimately come from federal, state or local sources.

Buchanan also explained that capital outlay is a separate state funding source outside of DOTD’s regular aviation funding.

The airport has also received or been listed for other aviation projects separate from the runway extension. DOTD’s 2025-26 aviation development program lists $216,000 for a Runway 4/22 and taxiway extension project, and the airport was awarded $190,000 in federal funding earlier this year for construction of a new primary apron.

Why money can’t be used for parish road?

That question has circulated locally as residents compare airport funding with the condition of parish roads.

Buchanan said appropriated airport and aviation funds are restricted under Louisiana law and cannot be used for ordinary public road projects.

That means money specifically appropriated or granted for aviation purposes cannot simply be redirected by the Police Jury to parish road improvements.

A separate 2026 capital outlay project provides $810,000 for Airport Road and West Waddil Street improvements in Marksville. That project is separate from the $2.44 million runway-extension appropriation.

Are companies committed to using the airport?

That remains unclear.

DOTD said the Airport Authority’s application states that several corporate entities in the area have expressed a desire for a longer runway. However, DOTD did not identify the companies and has not been provided information detailing the expected economic-development benefits.

At this point, the available information does not establish that a particular company has committed to locate in Avoyelles Parish, create jobs or base aircraft at Marksville Municipal Airport because of the extension.

Additional information on those questions would have to come from the Avoyelles Parish Airport Authority.

No construction date yet

There is currently no construction timeline.

Buchanan said DOTD has received the Airport Authority’s application but has not received a complete funding plan for the estimated $6 million project.

For now, the proposal calls for adding 1,201 feet to the existing runway, bringing it to 5,000 feet, with the stated goal of accommodating larger corporate and charter aircraft.

The remaining questions are how the balance of the project will be funded, when construction could begin and what economic-development impact the longer runway could ultimately bring to Avoyelles Parish.