General construction update on Grand Forks AFB street improvements Published May 7, 2007 By Scott Rudolf 319th Civil Engineer Squadron GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The summer construction season and the start of base street and parking lot improvement projects are upon us. Here is a look at what is on tap the next few months at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Youth center parking lot: On May 14, the youth center parking lot will be closed for construction. Currently, it is a graveled area between the center and playground. When completed, most of the existing parking area will be paved with concrete curbs and gutters. Interim parking alternatives will be developed and posted at the youth center for their customers. Repair of Tuskegee Airmen Boulevard: Tuskegee Airmen Boulevard will be milled and overlaid with new asphalt from Holzapple to H Streets. This project also includes new concrete curbs, gutters, adjoining street approaches and new sod. The project will start May 14 and will continue through most of June. Traffic restrictions will be in place during construction with exceptions to commissary delivery trucks and emergency vehicle access. Interim parking for education center staff, students and visitors will be in the parking lots to the southeast and the northeast of the education center. Intersection closures will be marked as necessary during the execution of this project. Base shoppette parking lot: A project to repair and landscape the shoppette parking lot is scheduled to begin on or about the second week of June. The parking areas will be milled and overlaid with new asphalt. A slight reconfiguration of the parking areas will also be applied to increase pedestrian safety. New curb and gutter will also be installed on the perimeter of the parking lot. Specific construction phasing plans are currently being developed to enable the shoppette to continue limited operations during construction operations. This project is expected to take four to six weeks, depending on the weather. Repair of Eielson Street: The north one-third section of Eielson Street from Redwood Avenue north will be reconstructed. This project includes complete removal of existing pavement and replacement. In many areas, the base and sub-base materials will be replaced to eliminate the potholes and soft areas of the street. This project is scheduled to being June 4. One lane of traffic flow will be available a high percentage of the time during construction. No access will be available to the recreational vehicle storage area on the north end of Eielson Street beginning June 4 for approximately two to weeks. Please plan accordingly in the event you may need access to items stored in this area as weather can dictate no-notice schedule revisions.