Main Gate to close as construction set to begin March 11 Published March 5, 2019 By John Ingle 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – The much-anticipated construction of the new Main Gate at Sheppard AFB is set to begin soon, which means the main entry point to the base will soon shut down. According to the 82nd Mission Support Group, the Main Gate will close Sunday, March 10, 2019, at 6 p.m. in preparation for the multi-million dollar project that is a local, state and federal partnership venture to enhance base security and safety through infrastructure repair and improvement. Construction will begin March 11 and is expected to last through the end of the year. During construction: • All in- and out-bound traffic through the Main Gate will stop. • The Missile Road Gate and Visitor Control Center will be open 24/7 throughout the duration of the project. All visitors’ passes will be issued at the VCC. • The Hospital Gate will open for inbound traffic from 6-8 a.m. and for outbound from 3-5 p.m. The 82nd Security Forces Squadron has coordinated with the city of Wichita Falls to adjust the traffic light timing outside the gate to maximize traffic flow during these time periods. • The Pedestrian Access Point to and from the bus transfer plaza at the main gate will be open daily from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. the following morning and will close from 1-5 a.m. daily. The project is a collaboration of local, state and federal dollars including: • $5.7 million in Unspecified Minor Military Construction funding • $1.5 million in Defense Economic Assistance Adjustment Grant funding from the state • $1.5 million from the Wichita Falls Economic Development Corp. approved by the Wichita Falls City Council