Russell Parkway Gate open Published July 16, 2010 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The Russell Parkway Gate reopened Saturday, three weeks ahead of schedule. With the gate closing having a big impact on traffic in and out of the base, the contractor agreed to step up the pace, said Frank Shedd, chief of project management in the 778th Civil Engineer Squadron. Originally, work crews on the project were scheduled to be on the job Monday through Friday, but the contractor agreed to have them also work on Saturdays and on some Sundays. The original completion date was Aug. 2. With the gate reopened, the Martin Luther King Gate will now resume its normal hours. The MLK Gate hours were extended to help accommodate traffic during the Russell Gate closing. The Russell gate was closed to make security improvements. The Green Street Gate is now targeted for the same work, set to begin Aug. 16. John Pugh, 78th Mission Support Group deputy director, said among the lessons learned in the Russell Parkway project is the need for better communication with the base populace about the plans. A gate at the Museum of Aviation was opened to alleviate the traffic problems during the Russell closure, but that gate will not be opened while the Green Street gate is closed because it is next to the Russell gate. However, Pugh noted the Georgia Air National Guard Gate is open to base traffic and would be a good alternative for Green Street users.