Fort Belvoir to get millions in infrastructure improvements

Fort Belvoir is set to get about $740 million to use for a variety of ongoing and new projects, as a result of requests included in a recent appropriations bill. The money comes from military facility funding requests that were part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs Appropriations Bill.
Congressman Jim Moran, Virginia Democrat and senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, supported a number of Northern Virginia, BRAC-related requests included in the bill.
The House approved the bill, on a 415-3 vote and the bill now goes to the Senate. The bill provides $24.6 billion for military construction projects and $53 billion in discretionary funds for veterans’ assistance.
“This is another down payment on the infrastructure improvements required to handle the 19,000 new employees who will relocate to Belvoir because of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure),” Moran said.
Military construction projects that will be part of the allocated money include:
n Currently, there is no direct access from Richmond Highway (U.S. 1) onto North Post. A road and access control point, for $9.5 million, will construct a new entrance across from Pence Gate, providing better access to North Post facilities, reducing congestion on U.S. 1 and South Post.
According to Bill Sanders, Belvoir’s director of public works, the only access point from U.S. 1 onto the North Post is via Woodlawn Gate (Va. 618). This gate is closed and is not expected to reopen, except in an emergency situation.
n Road and infrastructure improvements — $20 million. Belvoir’s existing transportation network and utilities infrastructure is not adequate to support the projected one million annual visitors to the National Museum for the U.S. Army. Improvements include an access road; electrical, water, and gas distribution lines; sewer collection lines, storm water drainage, and site improvements.
Sanders said that, although the North Post site is the preferred site for the museum’s construction, until the required National Environmental Policy Act analysis is complete, the site is not approved.
n Flight control tower — $8.4 million. The flight control tower at Davison Army Airfield, constructed in 1958, is outdated, structurally compromised, and poses an aviation safety risk. A new, taller tower will be built outside the flight safety zone and house new, modern flight-control equipment.
n Fort Belvoir Hospital construction — $106.3 million. Funding will continue construction of the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, which replaces the current DeWitt Army Community Hospital and supports the closure of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
n The North Atlantic Region Medical Command Headquarters Building will be constructed adjacent to the new hospital on Belvoir at a cost of $17.5 million.
n Washington Headquarters Service office complex — $336.3 million. Funding will be used to construct facilities at the Mark Center in Alexandria in accordance with the 2005 BRAC decision, relocate DoD units from leased space onto Belvoir.
n Dental clinic — $12.6 million. A new dental clinic with 14 dental treatment rooms will be constructed at Belvoir adjacent to the new hospital. A Fiscal Year 2011 Military Construction, Army project to expand the clinic to a facility with 40 dental treatment rooms is programmed.
n National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — $168.7 million. This BRAC Construction, Defense project continues construction of New Campus East, consolidating NGA missions on Belvoir’s North Area.
n BRAC infrastructure — $52.4 million. This project will provide infrastructure improvements for units and agencies relocating to Belvoir as a result of the 2005 BRAC requirement.
Also included in the bill is funding for veterans’ issues and programs.
“We increased funding for veterans and included language providing a TurboTax-style pilot program, so vets can file their disability and pension benefits online, making the process a little easier for our servicemen and -women,” Moran said.
Veterans’ TurboVet language
Moran also encourages the Department of Veterans Affairs to report on the feasibility of using TurboTax-style technology for veterans’ disability and pension claims’ filings, by Jan. 29. The processes involved with submitting disability compensation and pension claims with the department is one of the most challenging obstacles to the timely and accurate receipt of veterans’ benefits. While the department has made progress in deploying electronic records for veterans, further advances in technology will enable the automation of even the most complicated claims, a press release indicated.
Editor’s note: Information for this story was compiled from a press release from Congressman Jim Moran’s office, Fort Belvoir’s Director of Public Works and staff reports.