Civil Engineers get $4M to design projects here

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Megan Crusher
  • 452 AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  AFRC has given 452 CES a $4 million design fund for four base renovation projects. 

Two of the main projects are for renovations at the 452nd Air Mobility Wing Headquarters and at March Inn. 

The design phase will begin in March and should take six to eight months, according to Sean Feeley, CES architect programmer. 

Once the designs are approved, CES will request construction funds from AFRC. Renovating the two buildings could cost $5 million each. Construction could begin as soon as November once funding is granted and will take about 12-16 months to complete. 

Other design projects include blast fences for the flight line and cable retention for the perimeter of the base. 

"Blast fences shield engine rev-up on the flight line," said Feeley. "They deflect the blast from the engines up into the air instead of out behind the engine. Some of the current ones are old and too small for the aircraft we have." 

Since AFRC approved funding for the designs, it's likely that they will also give the go ahead for construction. 

"It definitely helps that Headquarters (AFRC) identifies this as a priority," said Feeley. "They're giving money for the designing so it would seem they intend to fund construction." 

"It's looking like a really good year for funding," said Richard Eunice, base civil engineer. 

"With the stimulus package and infrastructure projects coming down, we've been told it should be a good year. Hopefully we'll get a lot of renovation work on base."