Laboratory to Change Vehicle Traffic-Screening Regimen at Vehicle Inspection Station

Los Alamos, New Mexico, September 1, 2009—Los Alamos National Laboratory is changing its staffing of the vehicle inspection station at East Jemez Road and Diamond Drive effective Saturday, September 26.

Beginning on that day, lanes two through five will be open 24 hours a day and won’t be staffed by a Laboratory protective force officer. Laboratory employees and other motorists need not stop at this vehicle inspection station when traveling through lanes two through five, numbered from left to right.

Lanes one and six will be closed except when heavy vehicle traffic necessitates their opening.

Lane seven, the far-right lane, will be staffed fulltime by a protective force officer. Large vehicles, such as commercial delivery or recreational vehicles, must use lane seven and stop, proceeding only after an indication by a protective force officer.

These changes stem from three years of data and operational experience as well as current security conditions. The new approach will redirect resources to screen only vehicles that need to be screened, thus reducing the need to staff all of the vehicle inspection stations. This vehicle inspection station can quickly be staffed if conditions should change because of heightened security.

No changes are planned to the vehicle inspection stations on Pajarito Road and on West Jemez Road (NM 501).

All vehicles passing through the vehicle inspection stations are subject to inspection based on security conditions or observation of suspicious circumstances. Drivers of vehicles chosen for inspection are reminded to follow the directions of Laboratory protective force personnel. Motorists also are reminded to observe posted speed limits when approaching and driving through the traffic portals and to merge safely and courteously.

More information about changes to the vehicle inspection station is at http://www.lanl.gov/community/perimeter/index.shtml. Write to spp-questions@lanl.gov for questions or more information.

About Los Alamos National Laboratory (www.lanl.gov)

Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and the Washington Division of URS for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.