Building with a purpose

Crews from the 482nd Civil Engineering Squadron construct a new bridge at Homestead Air Reserve Base on April 15. The month long project has given the base a new emergency alternative route which will be a critical safety precaution for the 2010 Wings Over Homestead Air Show. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lou Burton)

Building with a purpose

Senior Airman Andrew Lassman, 482nd Civil Engineering Squadron water and fuel systems apprentice, backs up a dump truck load of gravel to help build up the new bridge at Homestead Air Reserve Base on April 15. The month long project has given the base a new emergency alternative route on base, which will be a critical safety precaution for the 2010 Wings Over Homestead Air Show. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lou Burton)

Building with a purpose

Senior Airman Luis Mateo, 482nd Civil Engineering Squadron heating, ventilation, & air conditioning apprentice, operates a roller in order to compact the newly added gravel to Homestead Air Reserve Base’s newest bridge on April 15. The month long project has given Homestead ARB a new emergency alternative route which will be a critical safety precaution for the 2010 Wings Over Homestead Air Show. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lou Burton)

Building with a purpose

Published May 3, 2010
By Senior Airman Lou Burton
482nd Fighter Wing

HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- Homestead Air Reserve Base has updated its infrastructure by building a critical bridge that will allow security forces and other quick response personnel the ability to by-pass base traffic in the event of an emergency.

Construction began in April and within three weeks, the project has resulted in an alternative route for the base's emergency response force, according to Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Lankford, 482 Fighter Wing Civil Engineering Squadron pavement and construction superintendent.

"We dug to the coral sea bed, dredged the channel, added tubing for water flow, compacted the surface with four different sizes of rock - the largest on the bottom and the smaller on top to fill the creases," said Senior Airman Olivia Zanfardino, a structural apprentice with the 482nd Civil Engineering Squadron.

"The project was completed with cooperation from the entire Civil Engineering Squadron," said Sergeant Lankford. "With so many of our members deployed, the four Airmen assisting us have not been able to attend their technical training school yet - they are learning everything on the job, as we go."

"We are doing a little bit of everything here," said Senior Airman Andrew Lassman, water and fuel systems maintenance apprentice.

"Through this project we are getting licensed on various pierces of heavy equipment including dump trucks, front-end loaders, rollers, and road graters. This type of training is very beneficial to us because we can use these machines Air Force wide," said Senior Airman Ryan Prince, water and fuels systems maintenance apprentice. The other good thing is the certifications on the equipment transfer to civilian use as well."

"The bridge is going to be a great asset for security forces and first responders supporting the Wings Over Homestead air show. It provides a quick route off base in case of an emergency," said Maj. Harold Talbert, 482nd Security Forces Squadron commander

The four Airmen have been recognized as April's Homestead ARB Citizen Airman Spotlight; a monthly selection of Air Force personnel doing extraordinary work.