Construction at main gate set to begin this month

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Amy Cooper
  • 1st SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The Hurlburt Field main gate on U.S. Highway 98 is set to undergo a major facelift over the course of the next year.

The 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron is scheduled to begin work April 27 on the main gate portion of the $6.5 million antiterrorism/force protection military construction project which will improve traffic flow on and off base and add additional force protection features.

"This project is for everyone's benefit," said Col. Michael Smietana, 1st Special Operations Mission Support Group commander. "It's for security reasons as well as to improve traffic flow. When it's done, people will see an improvement."

Speegle Construction of Niceville is the prime contractor on the Corps of Engineers, Mobile District design-build project. Work is already well underway south of Highway 98, constructing a new entrance into the Soundside housing area.

Work on the main gate will be divided into two phases. One of the major portions of Phase I, which begins this month, is the addition of a fourth outbound lane on the West side of Cody Avenue from Independence Avenue to Highway 98. Also, an inbound lane will be added on the East side of Cody Avenue "to allow two lanes for commercial vehicles to be inspected and to be stacked out of the way," said Chuck Spangler, 1st SOCES.

Phase I will also include the installation of a storm water drain line under Cody Avenue near Highway 98. This will prevent flooding of the intersection during heavy rain, which has closed the gate's East-bound entrance in the past, Mr. Spangler said.

Phase II of the project, which may begin as early as May, includes building canopies for the commercial vehicle inspection lanes and the regular traffic entrance so guards will be able to continue identification checks in all lanes during inclement weather.

"Lightning warnings are a serious deal," Colonel Smietana said. "Every year, Air Force personnel are struck by lightning while on duty. So when we receive a warning from the base weather shop, we have to shut down all but one entrance lane to keep our people safe."

"The project's large canopies for commercial and non-commercial vehicles will significantly reduce in-bound traffic delays which have occasionally backed up the inbound base traffic all the way through the Hwy. 98 turn lanes and into the Highway 98 East-West through lanes," Mr. Spangler said.

Pop-up barriers and anti-ram cables will also be installed during the construction. One barrier on the new outbound lane will be installed during Phase I. The other barriers will be installed during Phase II, probably two at a time to minimize traffic flow problems, Mr. Spangler said.

With any construction project, there will be a few headaches before the relief is felt.

The effect on traffic will be minor during Phase I, Mr. Spangler said.

"There will be traffic cones along the edge of Cody Avenue as they (contractors) add on the additional lanes," he said.

There may be additional traffic flow challenges during the installation of the storm water pipe, Colonel Smietana said.

"We're looking at options to work during off-peak hours and weekends," the commander said. "We'll try to minimize the effect on traffic while crews cut through the roadway."

However, there will be more inconveniences associated with Phase II.

"Morning traffic flow onto the base could go slower during the detour around the visitors' control center, so it's possible that some additional backup could occur within the double left turn lanes of the East bound Highway 98 traffic," said John Carruth, 1st SOCES deputy civil engineer. "But its unlikely this would result in any obstructions of the through lanes of the East bound Highway 98 traffic."

Colonel Smietana urges drivers to plan ahead during construction.

"Leave five to 10 minutes earlier, as there may be delays in the beginning while people learn the new traffic patterns," he said. "After a while, we will get into a routine."

Most importantly, drivers should think safety while traveling through the construction areas.

"Slow down and pay attention," Colonel Smietana said. "There will be people, equipment and a lot of activity to watch out for."

Work is scheduled to be completed in March 2008.

Editor's note: The COMMANDO staff will keep you updated on the construction from start to finish. Also, visit the Main Gate Construction section of the Hurlburt Field Web, www2.hurlburt.af.mil, and tune into the commander's access channel for updates.