- Mar 9, 2005
- 16,029
- 4,798
- 136
It started out like any other day as I made my way to work, however, once I got off the interstate and onto the last stretch of road to the base it became clear that something was wrong as traffic across all 3 northbound lanes was at a standstill. What should only take 5 minutes to traverse took over 2 hours today. During that time multiple unmarked cars running code along with marked vehicles from JSO and FHP passed us on the shoulders but we just didn't have any information on what was happening ahead of us.
Turns out that somebody tried to force their way past the gate guards and onto NAS Jacksonville but they did not succeed and died at the barrier for reasons not yet revealed. At the same time all phone lines to the base were severed so the only way to call was from personal cell phones and the Birmingham gate was closed forcing all traffic to the other two gates. Strange start indeed and at the end of the day the gate was still closed forcing all traffic out the same two gates with the same congestion as in the morning. They finally ended up reopening the gate for exit only after I'd made my way home for day. Just one of those things that don't expect to see happen.
Turns out that somebody tried to force their way past the gate guards and onto NAS Jacksonville but they did not succeed and died at the barrier for reasons not yet revealed. At the same time all phone lines to the base were severed so the only way to call was from personal cell phones and the Birmingham gate was closed forcing all traffic to the other two gates. Strange start indeed and at the end of the day the gate was still closed forcing all traffic out the same two gates with the same congestion as in the morning. They finally ended up reopening the gate for exit only after I'd made my way home for day. Just one of those things that don't expect to see happen.