YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — Nearly two-thirds of South Post will be without power and heat for six hours Saturday as construction crews relocate power lines to make way for a new heliport, according to the Area II commander’s office.
Construction workers must turn off the power to bury power lines that block the flight path to the new heliport, which is being built across from Collier Field House, said Lt. Col. Steve Roemhildt.
The 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. outage will affect most military housing on South Post, except for houses in Loring Village and the officer housing near Gate 17, Roemhildt said. Most of the businesses on Main Post — including the movie theater, video store, fast-food restaurants, furniture store and Starbucks — also will be without power, he said.
Roemhildt said crews would turn on the power as soon as the work is completed. He asked residents to avoid opening outer doors often during the outage to conserve heat.
“It might be a little cool, but there shouldn’t be too many problems,” he said.
The Dragon Hill Lodge, Collier Field House and the 121st General Hospital will have power, he said.
Roemhildt said Saturday’s power outage is the only one planned in conjunction with the heliport’s construction.
U.S. Forces Korea officials this spring will vacate the current heliport site near South Korea’s new national museum, which will use the land for an entrance. The new heliport site near Collier is significantly smaller, meaning military officials will have only one landing pad instead of the current six.
