Walker Gate temporarily closes for renovations

Fort Belvoir's Walker Gate will be closed to all traffic from Monday until Aug. 30 for renovations to guard booths and overhead canopy. Road signs and detours will be in place to reroute traffic through Pence Gate until construction renovations are complete.

"For those attempting to exit post through Walker Gate, we are rerouting traffic off Mount Vernon Road onto Surveyor Road to Belvoir Road. There, traffic is turning north and heading out Pence Gate," said Chief Timothy Wolfe, Fort Belvoir chief of police, "where traffic can now head north or south on U.S. Route 1. We are aware of potential backup situations that may occur during peak hours exiting Pence Gate. We ask motorists to be patient and ensure they are watching out for construction crews, equipment and debris for everyone's safety."

For traffic that normally enters the post through Walker, officials are asking them to enter through Pence until the access control point reopens.

"We understand the inconvenience of closing Walker Gate, especially for post residents," said Col. Mark Moffatt, deputy garrison commander for transformation and BRAC. "But, it is important we complete the required renovations and upgrades to the gate before the school year begins. It would be a much greater inconvenience to reroute school busses and morning traffic once our kids are back in school."

This is the second temporary closure of the gate this month. The first closure allowed engineers to pull down the existing overhead cover and to tie into nearby power sources to support the newly renovated access control point.

Post employee Karen Harris said, "I have to remind myself to go in and out through Pence Gate during the closure. I am also trying to avoid any major backups on Belvoir Road since I am heading north on U.S. Route 1."

Officials are asking drivers to slow down and be cautious around many different construction areas on post while major infrastructure improvements are made as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure legislation affecting Fort Belvoir.

"This closure of Walker Gate will allow engineers to install new permanent overhead canopy that will protect the guards from the elements and provide lighting for the ACP area," said Rob Snow, Fort Belvoir BRAC Operations Office project liaison. "They are also installing the basic infrastructure of an automated installation entry, or AIE, system that is similar to an 'EZ-pass' system."

All access control points on post are being upgraded for the AIE system, in preparation of the DoD announcing transition to this new system.