JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – A new gate for vehicles to enter Joint Base Lewis-McChord on weekday mornings will open for authorized users Monday morning. Intended to relieve some congestion on northbound I-5 and take pressure off the other JBLM gates along the interstate, the Mounts Gate will be open from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. weekdays for traffic inbound only. There will be no outbound traffic through the gate. The gate will be accessible by right-turn-only drivers travelling northbound on Nisqually Road/Mounts Road. Left turns into the gate will not be permitted.
The new access point was made possible by a partnership between the joint base and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). This cooperative effort makes possible an immediate step to help ease congestion motorists are currently experiencing on northbound I-5 leading to and through the Joint Base Lewis-McChord corridor. The road serving Mounts Gate required improvements before it could be used for general traffic. JBLM provided the funds for the road improvements, and WSDOT used its resources to get the work done quickly, enabling a speedy opening to the new gate.
“This new access point for JBLM is the result of a tremendous partnership between the installation and the WSDOT,” said Col. Thomas Brittain, Joint Base garrison commander. “Their research identified an opportunity to relieve congestion at Mounts Road, we were able to provide funding, and WSDOT was able to get the work done immediately, allowing us to open the gate in record time. It was a team effort, and we’re grateful to WSDOT for their hard work on this project. We think it’s a win-win for JBLM and the region, and we’ll continue to work with WSDOT and our regional partners to find additional solutions to roadway congestion.”
Only drivers with Defense Department identification cards and base decals on their vehicles will be permitted to use the gate. Normal security procedures will apply, and drivers who inadvertently turn into the gate will be directed off the installation by security personnel.