Shaw gates, traffic flow slated for more changes Published Sept. 24, 2010 By Rob Sexton 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- More changes to traffic flow into and out of Shaw will be coming in the next couple of years, base leaders say. Though the Third Army's major influx isn't planned until 2011, Shaw's civil engineers and security forces started planning several years ago how base access and security needed to be improved together, according to Chris Aamold, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron deputy commander. Security improvements, due to today's world-wide terrorist threat, had to balance how to handle the thousands of additional personnel coming with the Third Army's arrival and a limited security resources budget. The first phase in the planning process was to obtain a transportation engineering assessment of the base's entry control points. This study concluded that Shaw needed seven traffic lanes entering the base and recommended gates on the east and north side of the base, in addition to the main gate. Because of this study, Aamold explained, Shaw is constructing a new gate on the east side of the base with two incoming and departing lanes to handle Army, commercial and base east-side traffic. Also in the works is a new gate on the north side of the base with three lanes to improve traffic flow coming onto the base from the north. The plan also will provide easier traffic access to the two Sumter public schools located within the base's boundaries. According to Aamold, including the two existing lanes at the main gate, the requirements of the traffic study will be met. Aamold said the design for the east side gate, next to the existing commercial vehicle gate, is nearly complete. This project is scheduled to be advertised in November 2010. The design for the new north gate, he noted, which will replace the Frierson Road gate, is also nearly complete and scheduled to be advertised in December 2010. All projects are being designed to improve base security, traffic flow, increase traffic stacking capability and relieve traffic pressures, all with safety and security paramount. Due to these planned security improvements, base leaders determined that the old Polifka gate on S.C. Highway 441 (Peach Orchard Road) did not meet any of these criteria, nor could it be supported due to limited security resources, so it has been permanently closed and will be removed. Shaw AFB base traffic alterations and gate construction schedules, including lane closures, will be announced to the public and base personnel through the news media and www.shaw.af.mil.