SAFB Gate Closure schedule Published Sept. 24, 2008 SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Work to increase Sheppard's force protection measures will continue as the Missile Road gate re-opens Sept. 26 in preparation for the closure of the hospital gate. Crews will begin installation of final denial barriers Sept. 29 at the hospital gate similar to the work completed at Missile Road gate. Base officials said the outbound lane Missile Road gate will reopen Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. The hospital gate will remain open until 8:30 a.m. Sept. 29. The gate will be closed to incoming and outgoing traffic after that time. The main and Missile Road gates will be the only point of entry and exit from the installation. Denial barriers are intended to stop unauthorized vehicles from entering the installation. To inhibit a motorist's ability to access the base, the barriers have been placed in the inbound and outbound lanes of traffic. Installation of the hospital gate barriers should be completed by Oct. 26. Another new barrier will be placed at the main gate entrance to help keep motorists safe as they enter the base. Beginning Sept. 26, a barrier will be in the left lane of the drive up to the main gate to ensure vehicles in the middle lane on Sheppard Access Road - a left-turn only lane - adhere to the current traffic law. Only vehicles in the right-hand lane of Sheppard Access Road will be able to access the installation through the main gate.