Wichita Falls was awarded $1.75 million from the state in order to improve the safety and looks of Sheppard Air Force Base’s main gate area.
The city also contributed funding — as well as received funds from the federal government — for a total project cost of around $3.5 million.
The nearby businesses next to the gate violate federal security requirements because of their close proximity.
“This day in age… The things that have happened the last few years, you just never know,” WF Planning Administrator, Karen Gagne, said. “So we want to make sure if we can remove any of those impediments … Anything that’s a barrier to having top notch security in the area… That we can work with the base to do that.”
Soon, there will be more space around the main base for security reasons — as well as a new parking lot and a bigger covered bust stop. The city will try to acquire all of the nearby businesses, demolish the buildings and finish construction of the new main entrance by August 2017.
(Information from TexomasHomepage.com)