Langley's gate construction makes way for new visitor center

Norfolk District Public Affairs
Published Aug. 14, 2012
This rendering shows the final plans for the new Visitor Center and traffic flow at the LaSalle Avenue Gate at Langley Air Force Base, Va. Construction will close the gate for approximately six months. (Graphic courtesy of 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron)

This rendering shows the final plans for the new Visitor Center and traffic flow at the LaSalle Avenue Gate at Langley Air Force Base, Va. Construction will close the gate for approximately six months. (Graphic courtesy of 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron)

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, VA -- The second and final phase of gate construction here kicked off Monday.

The construction, a $7.6 million joint-venture project constructed by W.M. Jordan/Versar, Inc. and overseen by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will provide a new guardhouse and a 2,800 square-foot visitor center at the LaSalle Avenue gate.

Paul Peterson, the 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron project manager and liaison between Langley and the Norfolk District, told the 633rd Public Affairs office that the changes will make getting onto base simpler for visitors.

"Pass and ID will have six work-stations, a work area for SFS and an office for an NCOIC. There will also be 31 parking spaces, including two handicap spaces, in the new parking lot to be constructed," Petersen said.

Earlier this year, LaSalle gate served as an entrance gate for personnel working and living at Langley and the vehicle inspection area for large trucks accessing the base.

In May, Langley and the Norfolk District unveiled the completed first phase of gate construction, the LVIS, which is located outside of the Armistead Gate. The station relieved the LaSalle Gate congestion, which was caused by large vehicles waiting to be inspected. 

“The completed LVIS at the West Gate has already improved traffic congestion and safety at both gates, with state-of-the-art truck inspection procedures and physical separation of trucks and cars,” said Kate Field, Norfolk District’s project manager for the gates. “The inconveniences that our Langley Air Force Base clients and their visitors  will endure during the upcoming  closure of the LaSalle Gate will  allow completion of the final project phase,  enhanced LaSalle Gate entry structures, relocated roads and a modern  Visitor Center.”  

Field said working with stakeholders makes this project unique: the City of Hampton and Air Force are involved in many of the construction, traffic and project management decisions.

The gate construction at Langley continues a USACE/ Air Force partnership – Norfolk District has overseen the construction of the Langley Inn, F-22 hangars and more at Langley.

 LaSalle Gate construction is expected to last six to seven months.

 


Traffic information:
LaSalle Avenue is now blocked at Tide Mill Lane, and the City of Hampton will provide signs to notify anyone attempting to access the base from that direction. Additionally, traffic approaching from the downtown Hampton/Interstate-64A area will be diverted to the Durand, West [Armistead] or King Street gates.