The new gate and visitor center at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany are part of a $6.2 million expansion project, which is a key piece of a plan to consolidate surrounding annexes onto the main base. (Scott Schonauer / S&S)
The new gate and visitor center at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany are part of a $6.2 million expansion project, which is a key piece of a plan to consolidate surrounding annexes onto the main base. (Scott Schonauer / S&S)
U.S. Air Force airmen hold the U.S. and German flags during a gate opening ceremony on Thursday at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany. (Scott Schonauer / S&S)
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany — Construction is a part of life at this U.S. Air Force base in rural western Germany.
So much so that contractors have their own gate on base to minimize traffic in and out of the facility.
U.S., German and local governments are spending more than $264 million to expand and improve the base to handle a portion of the air traffic once Rhein-Main Air Base closes by the end of the year.
The plethora of new projects has created a few headaches for airmen and their families, but many understand that the base will be bigger and better as soon as the work is done.
“When I first got here, I looked around and I went, ‘Holy smokes, there is just all kinds of construction everywhere,’” said Col. Dave Goldfein, commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing, the base’s host unit. “I was really concerned at first, because after a while that can be fatiguing on a base. And what was interesting was when I went to talk to the airmen, they knew what the end state was going to be. ... There’s a lot of excitement about what’s going on.”
The latest in a long line of new projects is a new entrance and visitor center that will serve as a shining new gateway to a base in the midst of a major makeover.
Military officials, local politicians and members of the 52nd Fighter Wing celebrated the opening of the new gate and visitors center on Thursday. The project, part of a $6.2 million expansion of the northwest section of Spangdahlem, is a key piece of a plan to consolidate surrounding annexes onto the main base.
Spangdahlem is home to between 3,000 and 3,500 American servicemembers.
Once Rhein-Main closes, U.S. military cargo and passenger planes will have to use Ramstein Air Base and Spangdahlem. To prepare for the influx of planes, more money is being poured into expanding the base to expand the runway, increase lodging, housing and other facilities.
There also are plans to build a new base exchange, fitness center, fire station and shoppette, but the money has not been approved yet, said Udo Sturmer, the engineering flight chief for the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron.
