Travis AFB $5 million redesigned gate project to be reopened this fall

By Ian Thompson

TRAVIS AFB - When will Travis Air Force Base's Front Gate be completed and opened?The best answer at present is "sometime this fall," according to Rick DeBernardi, a project manager with the 60th Civil Engineering Squadron. Both the Main Gate and the North Gate are in the midst of a massive redesign and reconstruction that has forced all traffic to enter the base through the Hospital Gate.The last schedule released by the contractor said the gate will be finished by Oct. 31. The contractor also promised base commander Col. Lyn Sherlock to get the gate finished by Sept. 10.Travis closed its Main and North gates last September for reconstruction shortly after work was finished on the Hospital Gate.

The work was part of an Air Mobility Command-wide project to redesign all of the entrances to AMC bases to improve vehicle access as well as base security.Parsons Corp, the contractor doing the work, originally said it would finish its work by February, but disagreements between Parsons and the Air Force stalled work earlier this year until an agreement was reached. Once completed, the $5 million project will have a new visitors center, more parking and vehicle inspection bays, according to the news item. The delays getting on base last year due to construction were part of the reason the base canceled Travis' first public air show in years.Public Affairs assured this October's air show will go on with special lanes open through the front gate to accommodate visitors.

Travis' other major construction project, the Westwind Inn, is slated for opening in November. The new hotel, which cost about $40 million to put up, will have 350 rooms, a day spa, business center and a coffee shop for guests. Once opened, it is expected to save the Air Force money over the long run by allowing visiting Air Force and other military people, to stay on base and not have to be lodged in an off-base hotel. Travis' Lodging General Manager Doug Marchel said that it cost the government $11 million to lodge people off-base.

Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.

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