Organizers to close Richardson Highway temporarily during F-35A aerobatic performances; detour available
Eielson Air Force Base officials say they’re expecting around 10,000 people to show up next week on both August 1st and 2nd during the Arctic Lightning Air Show and Open House.
Organizers say some events will require temporary closures of the Richardson Highway.
Air show Director Lt. Col. Lloyd Wright says base officials want to ensure that all those who turn out for the air shows have a good experience. So they’ve set up safety and security measures on the base that those who plan to go to the shows must abide by.
“ We're asking folks not to bring any weapons or anything explosive, anything that's gonna be a danger to people or to aircraft,” he said. “So that includes drones and lasers, loose items that could fly across the ramp and be sucked into an aircraft’s engine.”
The list of prohibited items also includes fireworks, weapons, drugs, laser pointers and pets.
A list on the Eielson website of items that base officials definitely want air show patrons to bring includes drinking water in clear plastic bottles. Also, hearing protection, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, comfortable shoes and small folding chairs.
Wright says small containers and bags used to carry those items should be easy to open, so base security officers can quickly take a look inside them.
“Anything you need to take care of the kiddos, so diaper bags or strollers and things like that. As long as you're able to have them searched, that is all recommended items to bring,” he said.
He also says the base will post signs and have security and police officers available to help direct traffic into the main entrance off the Richardson Highway to a parking area.
Wright says Alaska State Troopers and Fairbanks-area police officers will help out with traffic control around the airshow site. The local officers and base security personnel also will help operate two locations on the highway where traffic will be stopped during aerobatic performances by Eielson’s F-35[A Lightning 2] fighter jets.
“ We're having them fly a couple of times a day, so it'll be at the start of the show and towards the end of the show.”
He said the closures will likely occur around noon and around 3:30 to 4 p.m.
“So we're gonna close down the highway twice each day,” Wright said. “We expect the highway closures to last somewhere between 15 and 25 minutes at a time.”
An Alaska State Trooper spokesperson said a four-mile stretch of the Richardson Highway will be closed from an area near Eielson’s South Gate to one that’s just north of the overpass at the interchange near the base’s main entrance.
The spokesperson said a detour route along Eielson Farm Road will be available during the closures.
Wright said traffic also will be stopped twice next Thursday (7/31), during an Open House and air show for military servicemembers, civilian employees and retirees and their family members. Admission is free for the Open House and also for the Aug. 1st and 2nd air shows.
Base officials have budgeted $300,000 to cover the air show expenses.
More information about the events is available on the base website, Eielson.af.mil.
