RAF MILDENHALL, England — Construction of a post office that will open in July is the highlight of several construction projects scheduled to be completed on base this year.

Work on the new post office began in September 2004. The $3.5 million project will include dedicated parking, a consolidated customer service counter and slightly bigger mailboxes, according to information from the base public affairs office and the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron engineering flight.

Another large project is the special purpose vehicle maintenance facility being built near the air traffic control tower.

The $3.2 million facility, which also is set to open in July, will be able to accommodate all the special purpose vehicles at RAF Mildenhall.

Other projects under way:

Renovation of the law center began this month and is due to be complete in September. At a cost of $1.2 million, the extension will include a jury deliberation room, judges’ chambers and new toilet facilities. The project includes refurbishment of the courtroom.An upgrade of barriers and bollards — posts that can be raised or lowered in the street to stop traffic — around the base to improve security gets started this month and is due to be completed in June. The cost is $440,000.Two projects will benefit the community development area behind the new bowling center. Two softball fields and one soccer field have been under construction since October. The $740,000 project should be completed in May, but it will not be open until 2006 to allow the grass to grow.In the same area, an outdoor running track will be built at a cost of $700,000. The track will feature a rubberized surface and lights for all-weather running any time of day. Construction will begin in May.Sidewalks will be built in the community development area to connect the area with family housing, the bowling center and other facilities. The project will begin in March and be completed in June at a cost of $240,000.The main sewer pipes connecting the base to the off-base water treatment plant will get an upgrade at a cost of $500,000. The project now under way will be completed in March.Closed-circuit television cameras will be installed throughout the base. The cost is $1.2 million and the project should be complete in June 2006. It has not yet begun.No date has been set to begin two other projects. The main gate will be renovated to improve traffic flow. An inspection facility for large vehicles is part of the $1.4 million project.

Also, the south side dog kennels will be enlarged for both animals and staff at a cost of $735,000.

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