JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- In order to expand on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s current safety and security measures at its first line of defense, its gates, construction is scheduled to take place throughout the summer months of 2019 and 2020.
“With more than 1 million vehicles per month flowing through our gates, the continued safety and well being of our defenders and this community is our top priority,” said Eric Carlson, 673d Security Forces Squadron deputy commander. “In order for us to align with specific gate standards set forth by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s initiative “Defending Our Perimeters Focus,” it is necessary for us to take action while the funding is available. The gate construction is coinciding with a mixture of regularly scheduled capital improvements, so it is important for commuters to pay attention to construction updates.”
This information will be available at multiple sources to include: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson JBER (official) Facebook page, on the JBER Connect Application and https://www.jber.jb.mil.
Some of the basic gate area enhancements scheduled to be made this year are the installation of on-sight restrooms, the replacement of certain guard shelters, road widening of traffic entry lanes and final denial barriers.
“The gate improvements are designed to offer our defenders a safe, more secure work environment, which will also provide them a better quality of life in their daily working conditions,” Carlson said. “Some people might not realize the limited work-life environments our defenders currently have. Our gates are their offices. Not only are they working long hours, but they are doing it standing up year-round, exposed to the elements despite the temperatures.”
Patience will be required by all those passing through the gates as well as an understanding the work is limited due to the short construction season in Alaska.
“The traffic circle construction happening near the Muldoon Gate will help maintain a steady uniform traffic flow,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Kerry Thompson, 673d SFS Operations superintendent. “It’s also important to remember that during the construction at the Boniface Gate, our defenders will be out there de-conflicting traffic at the very busy Vandenberg and Provider intersection so we need everyone to pay close attention while negotiating that area.”
As funding becomes available, more construction projects will take place over the next few years. A new Boniface Visitor Center, additional guard shelter replacements as well as additional road work are just a few of the projects on the list.
During the multiple phases of construction, update notifications will be made in advance of each gate or road closure.
“Security will continue to be our top priority, not only for the community it serves, but for the numerous mission sets JBER has,” Carlson said. “We hope that everyone continues to check for updates and remains patient while commuting in and out of these areas.”