Main gate to close until November

A major construction project is set to begin at the main gate of Naval Air Station Fallon.

Starting Monday, the gate will be closed for the installation of an automated vehicle gate. The construction is expected to take until mid-November, with testing of the new gate system scheduled until Nov. 30. At that time the main gate will reopen to vehicle traffic.

In the meantime, NAS Fallon Security Department will shift vehicle access to the west gate near the fuel farm on Pasture Road. This will be the primary point of entry and exit for drivers during this construction period, and it will be open and manned with security personnel around the clock.

The west gate is a fairly narrow two-lane road, and the sentry will be stationed in the center of the roadway to check identification of incoming vehicles. Because of this, multiple speed bumps will be in place, and everyone is reminded to use an extra amount of caution going through the temporary setup. A speed limit of 10 mph will be enforced.

To alleviate some of the congestion expected at the west gate, hours for the south gate on Berney Road will be extended. The south gate will be open from 6-8:30 a.m. for inbound traffic only. Incoming traffic will use both lanes. The south gate will be open for normal inbound and outbound traffic from 8:30 a.m. until noon, and from 2-5 p.m. for the afternoon shift change traffic surge. These hours will be used as a starting point, as security expects to modify the south gate times depending on usage.

The Pass and ID Office will remain open during the construction, and access to their parking lot will not be blocked by the construction.

For anyone walking or riding a bicycle from base housing, the pedestrian access will still be via the main gate. For those on foot, the hours will be 6 a.m.-8 p.m. during weekdays, and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on the weekends.

Once testing is complete in late November, the main gate will revert to being the primary access to the air station with the added advantage of having an automated card reader for vehicle access. The automated system will be employed during off-peak traffic times.