Entry control point upgrades to increase base security

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William O'Brien
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Editor's note: This article is the first in a two-part series highlighting the current gate construction effort.

Edwards current process of construction and upgrade began with the North Gate, nearing its completion, work on the next gate began June 9.

The project will cost about $2.2 million for each gate and will bolster security at the base's entry points.

A temporary entry control point and a bypass were created to allow traffic to flow in and out of the base while the construction process was ongoing.

"Before any work can be done, a temporary entry control point and bypass must be created," said Brian Sponsler, 95th Civil Engineering and Transportation Directorate engineer. "Once that is done, we can start working on everything else."

The current anti-vehicle barrier creates a dilemma for the gate guard operating it. When considering deploying the barrier they know that they could seriously injure or even death to an innocent motorist. They also know if they don't do it, they could be allowing a criminal element to enter the installation.

"They know that activating it they run the high risk of killing the motorist," said William Papotta, engineer or the 95th CE. "It's like shooting a gun for the operator; they can only do it to a target they're willing to kill."

This project will address these issues in multiple facets. The barrier will be replaced with a new non-lethal traffic barrier. Instead of a metal barrier that jettisons from the ground in front of the oncoming traffic the non-lethal barrier will be a net, which when activated, will stop the oncoming car in a safe manner.

"The new barrier will be a much lesser impact than what we have now," said Mr. Papotta. "These barriers are to detain people not kill them."

But being blindsided and halted by a net without warning can still cause physical damage. Fixing this issue is more of an emphasis than the new barrier for these engineers.

"We looked at how much time a driver has from the time they see the warning lights to the time of impact with the barrier and we realized that wasn't enough time," said Mr. Sponsler. "So we moved the barriers back to give the driver more time to see the warning lights and slow down the vehicle."

In addition to that, they redesigned the roads to prevent anyone from speeding through the area. The design includes an added curvature to slow drivers as they approach and exit the base.

"The balance between making the road drivable for the safe driver but at the same time making it restrictive enough to stop a driver trying to defeat the barrier system required a careful design for that piece of road," said Mr. Sponsler. "More design energy was put into that section of road than any other on base."

When completed, each gate will offer new inspection areas for the guards. The new inspection stations will have a bigger canopy to shelter the guards from inclement weather and the sun. They will also feature a larger area for vehicle inspections.

"The stations are going to be replaced with bigger ones they will better accommodate the guards and their equipment they will have the capability for expansion as new and improved inspection tools are created and installed," said Mr. Sponsler. "They will also feature a canopy over the top to provide shade for the guards that are out there."

Mr. Sponsler said he is excited about what these upgrades are going to offer to all personnel.

"These upgrades are going to bring our gates up to the Air Force's current standards, and make entry and exit of the base safer while keeping the base secure," he said.