West Gate project on schedule

  • Published
  • By Corey Dahl
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AFB, Colo. --  Sitting in traffic at the North and East gates might seem frustrating now, but, in a couple of months, it will all be a distant memory.

Contractors are working six days a week putting the finishing touches on the $12.7 million renovation project, which is nearly 80 percent complete. Barring any fall snowstorms, the gate is on track to re-open Nov. 4, said Roger Williams, military construction inspector with the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron.

"It's definitely on schedule," he said. "Unless we have really bad weather in October, there's no reason we won't open on time."

And, Mr. Williams said, the improvements will be worth the wait. Once the project is complete, the West Gate will be three lanes when it enters base and will have a separate truck inspection station, similar to the one at the East Gate.

"Before, when a truck came, we had to move it over to the right lane, and then the gate was down to one lane coming onto base," Mr. Williams said. "We're not going to have that problem anymore. It's going to be so much better."

The new gatehouse will feature an overhanging cover to protect gate guards and anyone performing augmentee duty from the weather. And the new visitor's center, which will more than double in size, will help streamline the process for getting guests on base.

Until everything opens, though, Peterson employees and residents will have to continue to bear with delays at the North and East gates.

Mr. Williams said CE is working on adding a left turn lane near the East Gate, where cars going straight have been getting stuck behind cars waiting to turn left. The 21st Space Wing also worked with the city on adjusting traffic light signals near both gates to improve traffic flow.

For the most part, though, Mr. Williams said the base community - including himself and his fellow CE employees - has been patient with the gate delays.

"I think the base populace has been pretty good," he said. "It is frustrating, but no one is immune to it - I sit out in the traffic with everyone, too. Everyone just has to remember that it won't be much longer." 

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