Ellipse clipped for Moody's new base support center

  • Published
  • By Capt. Gary Arasin
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Moody drivers will soon notice a major change to the street landscape as crews begin demolition of the straight-away stretches of Austin Ellipse Feb. 26. 

Part of the final phases of the Consolidated Base Support Center project, the ellipse changes are needed to meet force protection requirements and are part of the long-term base development plan, said 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron officials. 

"After 9-11, we developed new force protection standards for building standoff distance; all new construction projects have to meet those requirements," said Maj. Jolie Clavelli, 23rd CES. 

The curves on each end of the ellipse will remain and traffic on these ends will change from one-way to two-way traffic. Stop signs will be placed where Mitchell Boulevard, Davis Street, Dargue Boulevard, and Dexter Street enter Austin Ellipse. These will become "T" intersections. This phase of the construction is expected to take about two months. 

"Actual traffic, while on the ellipse, will be continuous without stops," said 1st Lt. Michael Hostleter, 23rd CES Engineering Flight. "We are going to add turning lanes on both ends of the ellipse, and both turning lanes will have to yield to oncoming traffic." 

He added CES will place signs at both ends of the ellipse to enforce these changes.
One of the most significant impacts of this project phase will be the elimination of most of the ellipse parking. However, parking will remain at the current wing headquarters parking lot, near the Child Development Center Annex, plus three additional spots for the safety office's response vehicles. The flow of traffic will be made one-way through the headquarters area to minimize accidents, the lieutenant said. 

He said people will be able to access this remaining parking through the northern end. "Do Not Enter" and "Right Turn Only" signs will be placed at the south end of the parking lot to deter traffic coming from Berger Street. In addition, a handicapped spot will also be provided at the southwest end of the ellipse for individuals who need to access buildings inside of the ellipse. 

"Parking is going to be inconvenient for people who work in facilities along the ellipse until the CBSC parking lot is completed, but the end result will be a better flow of traffic and our ability to meet force protection requirements," the lieutenant said. 

The CBSC is a $10 million project designed to house the 23rd Wing command section and the wing staff agencies currently residing in the World War II-era buildings dotting the ellipse. The designers planned for the new building to be a one-stop shop for base customers. The mission support and comptroller squadrons will be among the nearly dozen functions consolidated in the 46,064 square-foot facility. 

Construction crews are expected to wrap up work in mid- to late-April when the furniture installation phase will begin. 

For this phase, planners decided on a new approach to designing the building's interior. The wing hired an interior designer to coordinate and serve as the focal point for the approximately $1.9 million furniture purchase."We have a state-of-the-art facility, so we wanted to ensure there was a common professional theme in the building," said Bill Bryan, 23rd CES chief engineer. "The designer will help the functional areas meet their needs while keeping a consistency in the look of the offices." 

Major Clavelli said barring unforeseen delays they expect the functions to start moving in during June and July. 

Long-term planning originally called for demolition of the buildings currently along the ellipse. At least for the short term, however, Air Force plans have forced wing leadership and CES engineers to reevaluate those plans. 

"If Moody is chosen to host the (Common Battlefield Airmen Training) and serve as the CSAR-X test site, we are going to need to have a place to put their command functions," said Mr. Bryan. "Rather than bring in trailers to house those activities, the current facilities can serve in the interim until we get projects funded."