Large MILCON projects planned for new year

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica McConnell
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Members of Team Minot met to review military construction plans scheduled for the base during the year 2012 during the Minot Military Affairs Committee Luncheon here Jan. 5.

Lt. Col. Matthew Jefson, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, briefed civic leaders and base leadership on a variety of construction projects, their statuses, and future developments planned for the year.

Currently, the missile procedures training operations facility, a 168-room dormitory, and the on-going replacement and renovation of military family housing units have been completed. A third dormitory is scheduled to be completed sometime this spring.

"This is a huge milestone for the base," said Jefson. "This marks the end of about 17 years of renovations and new construction that has gone on in the military family housing area. We have finished the final phase of that project this last calendar year. This has been a huge improvement in the quality of life for those living on base."

Jefson said a new air traffic control complex is also scheduled to be constructed this year.

"We are in design phases right now, but the project has been awarded," said Jefson. "Upgrades to the air traffic control complex here brings a new tower online. It will also bring a new base operations facility online as well. We look for ground to be broken this spring."

Future construction projects for the upcoming year include an additional 168-room dormitory, a conventional munitions maintenance facility, and a B-52 two-bay maintenance dock.

"The dormitory is another huge win for the base," said Jefson. "Right now, we have about 75 Airmen doubled-up in rooms not meant for double occupancy, so these additional dormitories are going to be a great help."

Up to now, Jefson said the base has spent more than $69 million on housing to support Minot's unaccompanied Airmen. Also in the works are two maintenance facilities for Minot AFB's 5th Bomb Wing.

"Another project for this year will include a three-bay conventional munitions maintenance facility," said Jefson. "There are upwards of 50 or 60 personnel in a building only meant for 25. This building is long overdue."

The other structure is a two-bay phase maintenance dock, something Jefson said many Airmen were looking forward to.

"This dock will allow us to have two B-52s completely enclosed," said Jefson. "This will allow for maintenance to be done without dealing with the harsh elements."

The final project to be awarded is an overall airfield construction.

"We have some huge upgrades coming to our airfield, in particular to the runway," said Jefson. "This will be the first time that the runway has had a full-depth repair since the runway was built in the late 1950s. And by that, I mean we are going to rip everything out and replace it with all new runway."

Jefson said the base was very lucky to be getting as many projects approved as it was.

"I challenge anyone to find another Air Force Base that has three MILCON projects going on," he said. "Many bases would be lucky to get even one project granted, so our base was very fortunate to have the large amount of military construction going on that we do here."