GrandView, Main Gate returning to normal traffic patterns

Published Oct. 27, 2009
By Senior Airman Samantha S. Crane
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Beginning Oct. 31, the GrandView Gate will be open only to commercial and large-vehicle traffic.

During the reconstruction of the Main Gate, the GrandView Gate was the primary access point to the base, but was not designed for vehicles to use as a routine point of access as it lacks many safety features. With the Main Gate construction project complete and traffic patterns normalized, the GrandView Gate will once again serve solely as the search area for all commercial and large-vehicle traffic entering the installation.

"The biggest purpose for this is safety," said Maj. Earl Layne, 366th Security Forces Squadron commander. "The GrandView Gate wasn't meant to hold large amounts of traffic. There's no shoulder and the lighting on GrandView Highway is horrible at night."

Closing GrandView Gate to small-vehicle and noncommercial traffic may also reduce vehicle mishaps on Simco Road.

"There was a stretch last year where we had four vehicle rollovers on Simco Road in a two-week period," said the 366th SFS commander. "Simco Road is not a short cut. The people who are using it are speeding to make it a short cut. Now it really won't be a short cut because you can't use GrandView Gate."

While an increased number of personnel will be using the Main Gate after GrandView closes to them, increased delays should not occur.

"We've done traffic studies and it won't significantly affect traffic," said Major Layne.

All vehicles longer than 40 feet are considered large-vehicle traffic and must use the GrandView Gate. Large vehicle traffic may also include people hauling trailers and boats or driving recreational vehicles if they don't feel comfortable using the Main Gate.

"Large vehicle traffic can be defined as total vehicle length, so if you're pulling something, that counts," said Major Layne. "If you're vehicle length is 25 feet or greater, you have the option of using GrandView Gate, but all vehicles longer than 40 feet must use the gate."

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