New South Gate opening signifies end of Aviano 2000 Project

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Fifteen years in the making, the new South Gate entrance on Area F opened up to vehicle and pedestrian traffic following a ribbon cutting ceremony here at 10 a.m. May 26 and brings to a close the Aviano 2000 Project.

The project was a joint effort between the 31st Fighter Wing, Italian Air Force, Province of Pordenone and the city of Roveredo.

"The initial concept for this road had several key goals," said Brig. Gen. Craig Franklin, 31st FW commander, during his remarks at the ceremony. "The primary goal was to improve the road structure and to minimize the traffic around the base and its impact on surrounding communities.

"Secondarily for U.S. Airmen, our civilian employees, our family members of the 31st Fighter Wing and Pagliano e Gori, the new access road directly off this traffic circle to the east of us provides a secure approach and a beautiful entry to the community service side of the base. I cannot imagine a more spectacular entrance to a base anywhere in the world--beautiful facilities with a backdrop of a snow-covered Piancavallo Mountain."

The Aviano 2000 Project, also known as AV2K, was conceived in 1994 and since that time, hundreds of new construction projects and renovation projects across the base have taken place.

"It has been a labor of love between the Italians and the Americans for this project," said General Franklin. "Although there are still a few projects yet to be completed on the inside of the base, I think today, with the opening of this new roadway and gate, that we can officially say that Aviano 2000 intent has been met and this is the conclusion of the Aviano 2000 Project."

Col. Filippo Zampella, Italian Air Force, "Pagliano e Gori" Airport base commander, said in his opening remarks that although the opening ceremony of the gate might seem like a little thing, the participation of the authorities demonstrates its value.

"This is in fact another example of the real collaboration established between the military authorities, U.S. and Italian, with the local authorities and institutions with a synergy that allowed Aviano to develop according to a model of perfect integration of military internal needs and the needs of the local community," said Colonel Zampella. 

The new gate is expected to improve the quality of life of personnel employed on base by reducing their drive time to and from work by nearly 10 minutes, as well as ease some of the traffic congestion along the AP Highway located directly outside the flightline area of the base.

The negotiation for the South Gate started in 2001 and was part of a plan of building three new entry points on Area F: Gate 7, the previous main gate, the newly opened South Gate, the new main gate, and the Large Vehicle Inspection System Gate, which will become the new gate for contractors when it opens in the mid to late summer of 2009, thus closing permanently Gate 10.

"We realize that all of these gate and hour changes can become confusing, but the end result should benefit base members and elevate the majority of traffic between Pordenone and Aviano via the AP Highway," said Danilo Gant of the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron. "These changes are the result of research, traffic studies and careful planning and coordination between the wing, Italian Air Force, Province of Pordenone, regional government and the city of Roveredo."

Commuters to the base will notice that in addition to the South Gate road, two traffic circles have also been added near the commercial area to the southeast of the installation as part of a bigger-picture plan through the Province of Pordenone in looking at closing most of the smaller roads around the commercial area via AP Highway, alleviating traffic to the base, and in building a second major road toward Spilimbergo that will run parallel with SS13 and intersect the AP Highway near the new traffic circles.

"This is a major undertaking by the Province of Pordenone," said Mr. Gant. "Our South Gate entrance is just one part."

Mr. Gant said this most recent project is just another example of the positive relationship the 31st Fighter Wing has built with the local Italian communities.

"We have worked together on many successful projects in the past from the construction of Gate 7 to the base sewer treatment system to our built-to-lease housing," he said. "This wouldn't work if we didn't have trusted relations among all parties."

The new gate hours are:

South Gate (Gate 9), located near the Area F softball fields and outdoor recreation/auto hobby shop is open 24 hours daily.

Old Main Gate (Gate 7), the former 24-hour-gate, is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday thru Friday, (excluding U.S./Italian holidays).

Contractor Gate (Gate 10), opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes for inbound traffic at 5:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday; however, it will remain open for outbound traffic until 7 p.m. Gate 10 is open on U.S. holidays and closed on Italian holidays.

Italian AF Gate will maintain normal operating hours.