Sen. Jeff Sessions' office announced Thursday IMCOM had agreed to the addition of 20 guard positions in response to growing traffic problems. IMCOM had earlier announced it was cutting Redstone's guard force by more than 40 percent and installation officials warned traffic problems would only worsen as a result.
The cutbacks meant Redstone wouldn't be allowed to fill vacant guard positions and in response, the arsenal closed Gate 8 on weekdays and reduced operations at Gates 3 and 7. Those changes led to traffic tie ups at the other gates, especially the already busy Gate 9, and delays for morning commuters on I-565.
Complaints about the traffic congestion caught the attention of state officials in Washington, who, along with Huntsville leaders, said they were trying to find a solution.
Redstone had originally asked for 130 security guards but IMCOM wanted that number set at 72. The Army's Office of the Provost Marshal General came back with a personnel requirement of 95 guards. A compromise was reached to set Redstone's guard force at 100 positions.
"We are thankful for the efforts of (IMCOM)," Sessions' office said "We are going to monitor the situation closely and continue to work with Sen. Richard Shelby, Rep. Mo Brooks and Mayor Tommy Battle to do whatever we can to ease traffic congestion around the arsenal."
Redstone Arsenal officials said they have not been officially notified of the change. Once they are, they will adjust gate schedules accordingly, they said.
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