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July 22, 2004—Today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4837, the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2005, making appropriations for military construction, family housing and base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense. Included in this legislation is $7.9 million, requested by U.S. Representative Trent Franks, for the Litchfield Road Underpass, which connects both sides of Luke Air Force Base.
“Today’s action further strengthens Luke’s position as a secure and viable part of this nation’s present and future arsenal of freedom,” Franks said. “By providing effective traffic flow between different areas of the base with an underpass, two points of entry will be eliminated, reducing the number of guards necessary for entry security. This will also eliminate the need to construct two compliant gates, and will lessen the vulnerability to the base that results from having so many points of entry.”
The Litchfield Road Underpass is vital to the Luke AFB Antiterrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) requirements. Luke AFB is currently using nine entry locations, all of which are manned. Construction has begun to upgrade six gates, to meet AT/FP standards. The completion of the Underpass will eliminate the need for two gates, and reduce both upgrade and Security Forces manning requirements.
“Trent Franks continues to demonstrate he can deliver for Luke Air Force Base,” said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter. “He understands the importance of force protection issues both at home and for our troops deployed overseas.”
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