WESTFIELD – The 104th Fighter Wing at Westfield’s Barnes Air National Guard base held a ceremony marking the beginning of the second phase of a complete aircraft parking ramp renovation yesterday.
The project will expand the current parking footprint, improve storm water drainage, install a new oil-water separator and improve area and security lighting.
It will be extended south and a snow shelf will be added to allow snow to be plowed off the aircraft parking spots.
The first phase of the project was completed earlier this year with a pooling of federal, state and local government funding and the completion of the runway reconstruction and the work beginning now will fill “critical airfield infrastructure needs that benefit civilians, industry, and the military, bringing opportunities for continued economic growth to the region,” said Col. James Keefe, commander of the 104th Fighter Wing.
“This is the second portion of our runway project known as phase two,” said Keefe before thanking Governor Deval L. Patrick and his administration for their work with the state’s Military Task Force. “(Phase two) will solidify our position at the 104th as the premiere air defense location for the first Air Force.”
Col. James Keefe, commander, 104th Fighter Wing (Photo: Sr. Master Sgt. Robert Sabonis)
Keefe said that the 104th Fighter Wing covers one-quarter of the population and one-third of the gross domestic product under their Aerospace Control Alert umbrella.
“This is a combined effort between the Massachusetts Military Task Force, the state, the City of Westfield and the 104th Fighter Wing,” he said.
The total cost for the construction of the ramp is estimated at a little over $8 million, with the Air National Guard contributing $2.75 million and the state’s Military Bond Bill contributing $5.35 million.
The city of Westfield has sponsored the overall project and is executing work on behalf of the state and the 104th Fighter Wing.
“The project has multiple layers that will help out the 104th, strategically, operationally and tactically,” said Keefe. “This project continues our modernization plans to ensure that we are not only able to perform our current mission for the combatant commanders, but to also take on any future mission which we may be tasked with.”
Keefe also highlighted much of the developments being made at the base thanks to its own civil engineering force. Keefe stated that the base has absorbed $70 million in construction since 2007.
“We have some of the newest facilities in the Air National Guard or the United States Air Force and we’re going to continue on this path to modernization to make sure we’re ready, reliable and relevant in our defense of the nation,” he said. “With the recent resurgence of terrorist threats to the homeland, the 104th is on the frontline of defense and this project is going to ensure our longevity to make sure we can do our mission.”
Keefe added that the renovations will allow for pilots to “train like they fight” and to bring in adversary air training to train pilots for overseas missions. He also highlighted the environmental benefits of the project.
“We sit over the Barnes Aquifer and the increase in concrete that this project is going to have is going to allow us to make sure the aquifer is protected in case of any spills from the aircraft,” he said.
Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice, adjutant general, 104th Fighter Wing (Photo: Sr. Master Sgt. Robert Sabonis)
“As far as efficiency, effectiveness and the pointy end of the spear to defend the United States, this base, this location… is number one in the country,” said Major Gen. L. Scott Rice, the adjunct general of the 104th Fighter Wing. “It’s the most cost-effective and most efficient. It’s a nice place to be and it’s nice place to live. That’s why we live here and raise our children here – because we’re committed to doing this together.”
“We look for quality and assurance that a project is going to be done well,” he said. “We look directly at Santek and Lane Construction on how they pull this all together and make sure this is the right time and the right project, because the defense of our nation depends on it.”
“(The military bond bill) is an innovative bill that was passed in March and signed by Governor Patrick, that offers this governor and future governors up to $177 million for projects that benefit the military and civilians,” said Adam Freudberg, policy advisor and exective director of the state’s Military Task Force. “We’re very proud for this to be the first project funded by that bond bill, both part of phase one and phase two.”
“Their national and domestic security missions have a partnership with this airfield, so this project benefits GulfStream, Rectrix and anyone who uses the civilian side, as well as the important national security missions of the F-15’s,” he said.
