Barksdale Defenders of Liberty Air Show Traffic Advisory

Bossier City police will be helping minimize traffic congestion for people attending the 2015 Defenders of Liberty Air Show this weekend.

When the gates open at 9AM Saturday and Sunday, traffic entering the base will run in its normal configuration. When it ends, base officials will initiate a contra-flow route at Barksdale's West Gate. All four lanes of traffic will be designated for outbound traffic olny. No traffic will be allowed to enter the gate during that time.

That configuration will take effect some time between 3 and 4PM both days and will remain in place until most vehicles have exited the base. All other gates will remain unchanged. Those attending the air show are advised to check the BAFB Air Show website for information regarding public access to the base.

Additional Bossier City police officers will be stationed in front of the Shreveport Gate on Barksdale Boulevard and at all other major intersections to help traffic enter and exit the base as quickly and safely as possible.

If you'll be traveling through that area this weekend, you're reminded that you could experience some traffic delays. Police recommend that if you're not attending the air show, you utilize Arthur Ray Teague Parkway as an alternative north-south route, especially if you're going to the Disney on Ice performances at the CenturyLink Center at 2PM and 6PM both Saturday and Sunday.

Here's a Mike Wood Park Air Show parking advisory:

Due to recent above average rainfall, Mike Wood Park , 2200 Dennis Street, in south Bossier City will have a limited number of parking spaces available this weekend for guests interested in visiting Mike Wood Park to watch this year’s Defenders of Liberty Air Show at Barksdale Air Force Base.

In past years, air show spectators have been allowed to park in grassy areas of the Mike Wood Park however due to the wet conditions vehicle parking will be limited to the 163 paved parking spaces inside the park. Visitors will not be allowed to park on the grass or on any other area not specifically designated for vehicle parking.

Because of the limited number of parking spaces that will be available, a Bossier City Parks and Recreation employee will be stationed at the park entrance and will only allow a total of 163 vehicles in the park at a time. Additional guests may enter, as determined by the employee, when a parking vacancy arises. The gates to Mike Wood Park will open at 7:00 a.m. on both days of the air show.