MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Access to McConnell base housing shifts to a different gate beginning July 24.
The main housing gate off the Rock Road and Arnold Court intersection closes at 7 a.m. that day. At that point, all inbound and outbound traffic for base housing will be routed through a security gate off of 31st Street and the terminus of S. Arnold Boulevard.
The 31st Street gate will be open 24/7, while the main housing gate construction and renovation project is underway.
“The work on the main gate to housing includes repairs and security improvements to the road to include a mill/overlay of the existing road, construction of speed tables to slow traffic, widening of the road at the guard shack checkpoint, installation of a sunshade over the incoming lane next to the guard shack, new rolling gates, and new or revised traffic signs for those entering and exiting the housing gate,” said John Schwartzbeck, Engineering Flight chief with the 22nd Civil Engineering Squadron.
This shift in gate access to base housing will also change traffic flow outside of base housing, and delays as drivers adjust to the new route and volume at peak commute times. For housing residents seeking to access southbound Rock Road from 31st Street, base Safety officials recommend that drivers first head eastbound on 31st Street and utilize Webb Road and either Pawnee Road or 47th Street South to access Rock Road, since those intersections each have a traffic signal while the intersection of Rock and 31st Street does not.
“Patience is key. Stick to the detour and adjust your travel time,” said Jon Murphy, 22nd ARW occupational safety manager. “As we work to improve our facilities there will be traffic delays. Plan and be a part of the solution not the cause of a problem!”
This change in access to base housing is expected to last through the end of the November of this year.