Plans to Ease Camp Lejeune Gridlock are in the Works

By Roderick McClain

09-06-10 – Jacksonville drivers face gridlock in and around Camp Lejeune, but city and base officials are working with consultants to ease those difficulties.

For many Jacksonville residents, a simple trip to the doctor could mean an hour's wait.

That's because security checkpoints can cause base traffic to overflow onto city roads.

Mike Rutkowski is a consultant with Kimley-Horn, a private consulting firm. He says officials are working to solve what has been a growing concern.

"Part of the problem that we're hearing again and again are the spillback problems and the gate operations such that there's heavy congestion in and out of the base."

Rutkowski says 85-90% of Camp Lejeune traffic is comprised of single occupancy vehicles. He hopes to reduce those figures by 25 percent.

Jacksonville officials have kicked off a six-month traffic study with a public survey.