Forbes Gate to close Sept. 22

  • Published
  • By the 60th Mission Support Group
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 60th Air Mobility Wing commander has directed that the Forbes Gate be closed to all vehicle traffic beginning Sept. 22.

"The base, in conjunction with Headquarters Air Mobility Command, has been making progress to strengthen our perimeter security," according to Col. Stephen Shea, 60th Mission Support Group commander. "This past weekend, we put concrete barriers that form a serpentine at the hospital gate. This prevents a high speed gate crasher from going straight on to the installation." 

Colonel Shea added that the closure of the Forbes Gate to vehicle traffic significantly reduces the possibility of a high speed vehicle entry through our perimeter.

"The bottom line is that this closure strengthens our overall ability to insure the safety and security of the base," he said.

The gate will remain open for limited hours to support pedestrian-only traffic. 60th Security Forces Squadron personnel will provide the opportunity for authorized pedestrians to enter and exit the installation through the turnstile at the Forbes Gate during the current hours of operation for the gate. However, the primary customer should be students.

"We have discussed this with the Travis Unified School district and we are currently handing out flyers to people who use the gate over the next couple of days," Colonel Shea said.

During the month of September, only about one percent of the base population used this gate during the limited hours it is open.

"Of these vehicles, about 60 percent of them are using it for the intended purpose - to drop off and pick up children from school," Colonel Shea said. "The remaining 40 percent were using this gate for convenience only."