Infrastructure Extensions (IE)
Infrastructure Development and Planning
Infrastructure refers to public facilities and services such as sewers, water,
electric, and roadways that are required to support existing and proposed
development.
ISSUE
IE‐1
Public facilities and services should be appropriate for the type of urban or
rural development they serve, but also limited to the existing and planned
needs and requirements of the area. For example, the provision of a safe
transportation system, including all modes of transportation (automobile,
mass transit, railway, highway, bicycle, pedestrian, air, water, etc.), is an
important infrastructure component. Adequate transportation
infrastructure contributes to local, regional, and state accessibility.
The main gate at Keesler AFB—White Avenue Gate is located on the south
end of the installation at the northern terminus of White Avenue. This gate,
like all other entry gates into Keesler AFB, predates the current Department
of Defense (DoD) design requirements including adequate vehicle queuing
area on the installation prior to the vehicle inspection area. As a result,
traffic stacks outside the gate, which affects the surrounding community.
This is most pronounced during the morning hours when staff is arriving to
begin their workday.
Infrastructure plays an important role in land use compatibility.
Infrastructure can enhance the operations of an installation and community
by providing needed services, such as sanitary sewer treatment and
transportation systems. Conversely, infrastructure can create
encroachment issues if expanded without consideration of the
consequences of future development. The extension or expansion of
community infrastructure to a military installation or areas proximate to an
installation has the potential to induce growth, potentially resulting in
incompatible uses and conflicts between a military mission and
communities. Within comprehensive planning, infrastructure extensions
can serve as a mechanism to guide development into appropriate areas,
protect sensitive land uses, and improve opportunities for compatibility
between community land uses and military missions.
Compatibility Assessment
To address these issues, Keesler AFB and the City of Biloxi have partnered to
develop a new main gate at Division Street that would provide sufficient
vehicle queuing on the installation, thus reducing the congestion at the
intersection of White Avenue and Irish Hill Drive and the safety issues with
traffic at the CSX railroad crossing immediately outside the gate.
The compliant Division Street Gate, which will be located directly west of the
intersection of Division Street and Forrest Avenue, is currently planned for
Fiscal Year 2017 (FY 2017). The new gate will include the extension and
rehabilitation of Division Street from the I‐110 to Forrest Avenue with road
improvements along Division Street provided by the City of Biloxi.
Key Terms
Infrastructure. The word infrastructure, in this section, refers to public
facilities and services, such as sewers, water, electric, and roadways that are
required to support existing and proposed development.
Background Report
The development of the new Division Street main gate
for Keesler AFB has the potential to impact the
surrounding neighborhood.
Division Street will form a new gateway to Keesler AFB. Improvements are
proposed to Division Street between the I‐110 exit and Keesler AFB to
accommodate the anticipated increases in vehicular traffic. These
improvements include updating Division Street into a wider boulevard that
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