Construction season begins at Ramstein

by Airman 1st Class Scott Saldukas
435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

 German contractors and the 86th Construction Training Squadron are scheduled to begin work on three different construction projects in March aimed at improving traffic flow and adding comfort to KMC members.

Both the Kisling-Lincoln and Lawn-Harmon intersections are scheduled to undergo
construction beginning Monday, and a canopy will be added over the Ramstein West Gate with construction beginning March 30.

The construction on the Kisling-Lincoln intersection will change the four-way traffic light behind the large base exchange lot into a traffic circle, reducing traffic congestion at the intersection and improving overall base traffic flow. 

The project is expected to last about five and a half months.

“This will be especially important as the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center becomes fully operational,” said Scott Vincent, 435th Civil Engineer Squadron program flight chief.

During the construction, there will be a dedicated bypass for the southbound Lincoln traffic onto Kisling and a two-way temporary road will be available for use.
The construction schedule requires the circle to be closed to traffic from April 27 until the beginning of August.

The second project is the Lawn-Harmon Circle, where there is currently a four-way stop sign by Anthony’s Pizza.

The project will realign the intersection from a four-way stop to a traffic circle.
This will improve traffic flow in that area of the base and will be critical for good traffic flow when upcoming construction begins later this year on the east gate, Mr. Vincent said.

The north side of Lawn-Harmon will be closed during the first phase of construction and the south side will be closed during the second phase.

At the end of March, construction will then begin at the west gate, where an overhead canopy will be put up to help keep security forces members and equipment out of inclement weather.

“It is the least we can do when they spend 12 hours a day out there keeping our base secure,” Mr. Vincent said.

The project will involve lane closures during the first three months; however, there will always be at least three inbound lanes in the morning and two outbound lanes open in the evening to ensure good traffic flow.

All three projects have an estimated completion date of August.

The 435th Civil Engineer Squadron will post story-boards with detailed information, maps of the road closures and detours at high traffic areas throughout the base, such as the officers’ club, enlisted club, commissary and BX.