The Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Directorate of Public Works is repaving the parking lot of the Fort Myer Commissary and expects to complete work by Nov. 7.
The parking lot was badly in need of new pavement, said Kenneth Randle, project manager for DPW. Cracks and pot holes in the pavement had caused customers to stumble, trip and, in some cases, even fall.
In the past, patrons have complained about injuries from loose gravel and cracked pavement, said Lt. Ron Foster, chief of the traffic investigation section of the Directorate of Emergency Services. Inclement weather and years of use had beaten up the black top, he said.
"You could twist your ankle," Foster said.
An average of 58,000 customers visit the commissary every month, according to Raymond Lane, commissary officer. There were also concerns for the Commissary's retiree customers.
"There's a large retiree patronage," Randle said. "We had to do what we could to keep [injuries] from happening."
Randle said a request for repairs to the lot had been in the system since Fiscal Year 2011, but this year DPW was awarded year-end funds in order to finally complete the process and improve service for commissary customers.
DPW received a notice to proceed with the project, budgeted at $327,252, on Oct. 22. In order to complete the project successfully, crews began milling the parking lot on the night of Oct. 29. Gearhart Construction, LLC, is handling the paving.
The milling has taken place at night because it's a disruptive process, said Chuck Foster, chief of DPW's engineering division.
The quick turnaround on the paving is due to the weather. The optimal temperature for laying the asphalt is 40 degrees, Randle said.
But if all goes according to plan, the project should be complete by the end of this week. The projected end date is Friday, Nov. 7.
"The temperature has been cooperating with us, and the weather has been cooperating with us, so it looks like all the stars are in line to get this done on time and on budget," Randle said.
Randle and Foster acknowledged that the construction might be inconvenient for customers and make parking difficult for a few days, but said the benefits far outweigh the costs.
"Basically, you've got a week's inconvenience for 10 to 15 years of service," Foster said.
For the time being, customers are encouraged to try parking on the North end of Henderson Hall and walking to the commissary.
"We've had people come to us in the midst of doing it," Randle said.
"They were upset on the first day, even some on the second day, but once it was done and the pavement was down, we had people come to us and thank us. One lady actually showed us where she had hurt her leg falling in the parking lot. She said it was long overdue."
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