Every time I see new roads and buildings going up on the base it reminds me of my first trip Beaufort, South Carolina.  In those days many of the roads were two lanes, few had over head lights and at first we found it difficult to drive around at night.  Our realtor Betsy, gave us a tour of the area as we searched for our first house.

She recommended buying on Lady’s Island, but as she squeezed her vehicle past other cars along a two lane metal bridge, the height of which barely reached across Battery Creek, we had second thoughts.  Mike wasn’t sure he wanted to make this commute to Parris Island every day.  We found out that every time it rained hard the bridge would flood forcing people to backtrack on Ribaut Road and drive all the way around Beaufort to get to the MCRD gate from the other side.

After we drove through the gate, along the causeway and over Archer’s Creek, we continued on Malecon Drive.  We did not have a traffic circle nor did we have 3rd Battalion Road as an alternative route; it was one way on, one way off.

Since that time way back in 1994, the Russell Bell Bridge replaced the old rickety bridge across Battery Creek, Parris Island has a traffic circle with a check point area and 3rd Battalion Road is fully operational as an additional road onto the island.  Over the years we’ve watched the base as it continues to evolve and improve.  Unfortunately, change takes time and all growth hurts to some degree.

New Parris Island Gate

About two months ago I noticed tiny orange flags poking out of the grass along the causeway and around the traffic circle like tiny wild flowers.  Next trees vanished and a crater appeared for construction.  Orange barrier fence popped up marking work areas and black silt fencing stretched to contain sediment.   At first traffic continued to move at its regular pace, then by the Archer Creek Bridge, new speed limit signs downgraded the 25mph to 15mph when workers were present.  Now each day brings more changes to the landscape as FutureNet Group, Inc. builds a new entry gate to Parris Island.

The gate’s new location will allow vehicles to drive onto the causeway and enter the base on Horse Island thereby eliminating the backup and spillover onto Parris Island Gateway.  According to an article on the website America’s Navy, the 9.5 million dollar contract was awarded to FutureNet Group, Inc., a small business out of Detroit, Michigan.

What Are They Building?

The America’s Navy article says “Construction will consist of a new entry control facility on Horse Island that will include roadway relocation paving and construction of a Gate Sentry House facility, four sentry booths, a canopy, and an over-watch station. The new complex will expand the existing traffic configuration and will meet all Department of Defense security standards for an Entry Control Facility.”  They even mention bike path lanes.

How Long Will It Take?

All of this sounds great, but it will take time and lots of changes to the traffic as the project moves forward.  I saw two estimated dates of completion, one from the America’s Navy article reads April 2015.  The other from a July 14, 2014 article in the Island Packet says the project will be done in October 2015.  Either way it looks like we will be seeing construction for a long time.  Expect various speed limits, (15MPH in some areas when workers are present), so make sure to give yourself extra time to navigate any changes to traffic patterns.

There have been many changes since I first arrived in 1994.  I can’t help but mourn things that no longer exist, like the old PX building whose walls tumbled down recently leaving only its metal skeleton, but over the years I’ve learned to embrace the new.  Whenever I’m feeling nostalgic for the way things were, I think of what all successful Marine’s do, “adapt and overcome,” and do my best to move forward.