Edwards AFB News

Runway construction brings traffic changes

  • Published
  • By Brian Sponsler
  • 95 ABW/CEC
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  As work accelerates on the Main Base runway, Edwards motorists may have noticed an increasing number of trucks going to and from the job site entry at Lancaster Boulevard and Shuttle Road.

The trucks are being used to transport a smooth flow of critical materials to the job site while maintaining base security and roadway safety.

The increased traffic requires a few changes to the Edwards traffic network, which motorists will begin to see soon.

Beginning July 13, Wolfe Avenue between FitzGerald and Lancaster Boulevards will be closed to through traffic. Only Benefield Anechoic Facility personnel with be allowed to access Hoglan Avenue from the Wolfe and FitzGerald Boulevard intersection. No traffic will be allowed between Hoglan and Lancaster.

The signalized Wolfe Avenue and Lancaster Boulevard intersection will be modified to prevent any misleading signals as that intersection will allow through traffic on Lancaster Boulevard only.

Flightline workers and others normally using that intersection will instead use Rosamond and FitzGerald Boulevard. All traffic exiting the Benefield Anechoic Facility complex must turn right on Wolfe Avenue.

Also beginning July 13, automobile and light truck drivers are asked to use only the left-most lane when entering the West Gate between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. This is to allow the Joint Venture runway construction contractor vehicles the exclusive use of the right entry lane in order to facilitate enhanced security measures for the runway construction traffic.

All non-runway construction truck traffic must continue to use the existing truck lane. This lane-use requirement applies only to the West Gate. Lane use at the North and South Gates will not be affected.

Starting July 2, the runway construction contractor will be widening Lancaster Boulevard near the entrance to Shuttle Road and constructing bypass lanes, acceleration lanes, and dedicated turn pockets to minimize conflicts between construction and non-construction traffic. Drivers are urged to be especially attentive and to obey all posted traffic regulations and warnings in this area in order to avoid the heavy truck and other construction equipment traffic that will be concentrated in this area.

"Civil Engineering, Security Forces, and the Joint Venture contractor are excited to keep this job safe, secure, and on schedule," said Ken Crawford, project manager with the 95th Air Base Wing Civil Engineer and Transportation Directorate. "Over the course of this project, we're going to have hundreds of trucks a day coming into this base. We need Team Edwards' help to make these proactive steps work, so that the construction of our new runway will be easier and safer for everyone in the Edwards family."