Naval Station Newport Changes Access Procedures -- Says Not Tied to Security Threat

Naval Station Newport Changes Access Procedures -- Says Not Tied to Security Threat

The U.S. Navy is changing its access policies to Naval Station Newport.

The announcement claims, "These changes are not due to any specific or credible threats to installations and there remains no change in the current force protection condition level."

The base announced Friday:

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Beginning Monday, Aug. 29, all installation gates will operate with one available lane at each entry control point. Navy-wide changes regarding access procedures make it necessary for our installation to reduce entry lanes to single-lane operations, even during peak traffic hours. These changes are not due to any specific or credible threats to installations and there remains no change in the current force protection condition level.

While there is no change to the schedule of operation for the gates, personnel will see an increase in delays during morning commuting hours due to this change. For these reasons, personnel are asked to plan their commutes accordingly. Your patience and assistance is greatly appreciated as the installation works toward restoring additional lane access for its gates.

The base traces its history back to 1881, when the Navy acquired Coasters Harbor Island from the state of Rhode Island. On June 4, 1883, the island became home to the Navy’s first recruit training station. A year later, on Oct. 6, 1884, the Naval War College was established on the island.

Today, the facility is home to nearly 50 U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Army Reserve commands and federal activities. According to the Navy, "It remains a U.S. Navy premier site for training officers, officer candidates, senior enlisted leaders and midshipman candidates, as well as supporting training for several enlisted personnel rates.

Newport is also the home to Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport which is one of two Navy full-spectrum research, development, test and evaluation, engineering, and fleet support centers for submarine warfare systems and many other systems associated with the undersea battlespace."