Gate Construction At Fort Indiantown Gap
The first of two planned access-control points at Fort Indiantown Gap was dedicated and began operations on Nov. 1, 2023.
All other entrances and exits to Fort Indiantown Gap are permanently closed to traffic, and Fort Indiantown Gap is now a controlled-access installation.
The Main Gate and visitor control center are located on Fisher Avenue near its intersection with Biddle Drive.
Construction on the second ACP, known as the East Gate, is expected to begin in 2024 and will take about a year to complete. The East Gate will be located on Fisher Avenue near its intersection with Quartermaster Road.
A gate has also been built on Clement Avenue at its intersection with Asher Miner Road. This gate will be used for controlled access by military vehicles, emergency vehicles and installation maintenance only.
In addition to the gates, additional fencing has been and will continue to be installed around the installation, including closing off a section of Asher Miner Road between Boundary Road and Clement Avenue.
The access-control project has been planned for about 20 years. After Sept. 11, 2001, the Department of Defense mandated tighter security at military installations, including access-control points. Construction of the access-control points at Fort Indiantown Gap has been delayed several times.
Members of the general public can still access Fort Indiantown Gap, but they have to stop at the visitor control center and show a valid state- or federally-issued identification card.
The gates do not affect access to Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Memorial Lake State Park, Marquette Lake, the Keystone Conference Center, Second Mountain Hawk Watch or Fort Indiantown Gap’s hunting and fishing areas.
Fort Indiantown Gap visitor information can be found here.
TIMELINE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
X December 2021 - Preliminary work begins on main ACP and visitors center site
X April 2022 - Begin construction on visitor control center building
X April 2022 - Partial closure of Fisher Avenue
X May 2022 - Begin construction on ID check canopy and search canopy
X June 2022 - Begin construction on gate house building
X June 2022 - Full closure of Fisher Avenue
X August 2022 - Begin fence line construction
X March 2023 - Award east ACP and fence contract
X July 2023 - Main ACP structures complete
X October 2023 - Main ACP construction complete
X November 2023 - Main ACP fully operational
X November 2023 - Closure of Clement Avenue at Asher Miner Road
June 2024 - East ACP construction to begin
July 2025 - East ACP and fence complete
NEWS
Access control point dedicated; Fort Indiantown Gap now a controlled-access installation (Nov. 1, 2023)
Fort Indiantown Gap to open main gate, restrict access to thru traffic (Oct. 19, 2023)
Temporary Utility Road closure extended (Nov. 10, 2022)
Section of Utility Road to temporarily close (Nov. 4, 2022)
Section of Fisher Avenue to close for Fort Indiantown Gap gate construction project (June 22, 2022)
Two lanes of Fisher Avenue to close temporarily for gate construction project (May 6, 2022)
Two lanes of Fisher Avenue to close for Fort Indiantown Gap gate construction project (April 14, 2022)
Gate construction begins at Fort Indiantown Gap (Dec. 13, 2021)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Why is this being done?
A: To secure Fort Indiantown Gap, which is one of the only U.S. military installations without access-control points. After Sept. 11, 2001, the Department of Defense mandated tighter security at military installations, including access-control points.
Q: Have FTIG officials discovered new threats in the local area they are trying to defend themselves against?
A: This project has actually been planned for many years, since access-control points were mandated on DoD installations after Sept. 11, 2001. Construction has been delayed several times and is now finally starting.
Q: When will the gates be finished and the base secured?
A: Fort Indiantown Gap is now a controlled-access installation. The east gate is projected to be finished in 2025.
Q: Will Clement Avenue remain open at Asher-Miner Road?
A: No, a third gate has been built there. That gate is only accessible to military vehicles, emergency vehicles and installation maintenance.
Q: Has Fort Indiantown Gap been unsafe or at-risk this whole time?
A: Physical security is currently handled at the individual and unit level. There are also dedicated safety personnel here as well as the FTIG Police who have ensured that service members and civilians who work or train at FTIG can do so safely.
Q: How much of a delay should I anticipate when I come in for drill and annual training?
A: Personnel manning the checkpoints will be trained to handle incoming vehicles as efficiently as possible. However, you should plan for delays getting on the installation. Unit chains of command should also inform their personnel to anticipate delays.
Q: Will buses transporting troops need to be marked in a special way?
A: A person driving a government vehicle or any vehicle on the installation must comply with laws and regulations and may be required to show registration information, valid ID and/or record of a safety inspection. Units will coordinate these or further requirements with the installation before scheduled training.
Q: Will the public still be able to access Fort Indiantown Gap after the gates are finished?
A: Yes, the public can still access the installation, but they have to stop at the visitor control center and show a valid state- or federally-issued identification card. The public is still invited to visit the Pennsylvania National Guard Military Museum, the Community Club, static displays of retired vehicles and various memorials.
Q: Will the gates affect access to Memorial Lake State Park or Indiantown Gap National Cemetery?
A: No, the gates will not affect access to Memorial Lake State Park, Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Marquette Lake, the Keystone Conference Center or Fort Indiantown Gap’s hunting and fishing areas.
Q: How will this impact hunting check-in procedures?
A: The hunter check-in kiosk has been moved to a location that will be outside of the perimeter fence. It is now located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Asher Miner Road and Clement Avenue, diagonal from the USO.
Q: How will members of the media gain access to the installation?
A: As in the past, members of the media will coordinate with the public affairs office and be escorted on to the installation.
Updated February 1, 2024