Upcoming main gate closures Published Oct. 25, 2011 By Mark McBurnett 82nd Civil Engineering Squadron SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Starting Monday, Oct. 31, Sheppard Air Force Base's main gate will begin to undergo reconstruction efforts that will last for several months. These efforts will impact primarily vehicular traffic flow through the gate, at some times closing the main gate entirely. The tentative dates of each construction effort, and the corresponding vehicular traffic impacts at the gate, are as follows: o Oct. 31 - Nov. 13: Installation of posts for a main gate canopy. One inbound lane will be closed each week. o Nov. 14 - Dec. 4: Construction of the canopy structure inside the fence adjacent to the main gate, inbound lane pothole repairs, guard shack area repair, and inbound/outbound crack sealing. Both inbound lanes will be closed and the outbound lanes open. The hospital gate will be open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. o Dec. 5 - Jan. 6: The canopy will be lifted into place and speed tables will be installed. The gate will be completely closed during this period, and the hospital gate will be open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. o Jan. 7 - Jan. 20: Masonry work will be accomplished around the canopy posts. One inbound lane will be closed. The Main Gate will remain open to pedestrian traffic during construction. Reminders will be sent out as work transitions to each new phase of this project. Everyone's patience will be appreciated as we work through some of the potential inconveniences caused by this construction. In the end, Team Sheppard will have an improved main gate that is more functional after much-needed repairs and provides better protection to our defenders and base members.