New gate eases traffic congestion on Detroit Arsenal

DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. -- The new access control point recently opened at the Detroit Arsenal easing the heavy traffic congestion entering and exiting the installation on Mound Road.

"The gate was needed to ease congestion and accommodate the increased population due to BRAC increases and other growth on the installation," said Alan Parks, garrison manager. "Once fully operational, it will also play a significant role in our antiterrorism force protection measures keeping delivery vehicles from having to drive through the entire installation to get to our warehouse facilities."

The new gate (Gate 1) is currently open from 5:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and handles all vehicle traffic to and from Mound Road. Until all construction work is complete on the new gate, all pedestrian access to and from Mound Road will be through the old Mound Road gate which is open for pedestrian traffic only from 6 -- 8 a.m., 11 a.m. -- 1 p.m. and 3:30 -- 5:30 p.m.

The new access control point includes a deceleration lane for people enter the installation from Mound Road. It also has two identification check stations versus the one check station at the old gate. While construction is ongoing, vehicles are being routed through what will be the delivery vehicle lanes. Once complete, passenger vehicles will enter through permanent identification check stations being build just to the west of the current temporary stations.

Another key to easing the congestion was working with the city to have new traffic lights installed on Mound Road. The lights are triggered by sensors that adjust the timing on the lights depending on traffic flow.

"This has made a big difference in the time it takes for me to get on and off base," said Darin Pemberton, plans specialist in the garrison plans, analysis and integration office. "Instead of exiting on the other side of the base and looping around the entire installation to get to Mound Road, I can just use the new gate. The new light makes getting out on Mound (Road) much easier too."

"The new gate has also made it safer for people coming in and out on that side of the installation," said Denise Blakely, installation safety officer. "I encourage people coming south on Mound Road to continue south of the gate and make the "Michigan U-turn" in front of the BP gas station where there is a light rather than making the turn directly across from the gate and trying to cross three lanes of traffic before entering the gate."

When all construction is complete, the Mound Road Gate will become the 24-hour access control point for the installation and all trucks and deliveries will come through that gate. At that point, the 11 Mile Road gate will operate from 5:30 a.m. -- 5:30 p.m. All visitor badging services will remain in the visitor control center at the 11 Mile Road gate.