Return to Pointer View home page February 11,  2005

Contractor to start fence project 

By Kathy Eastwood
Staff Writer

The New York District  Army Corps of Engineers and P & K Contracting from Jersey City, N.J., are building a security fence around West Point as a force protection measure. 

“The perimeter fence is six feet high with barbed wired on top,” said project manager, Victor Tom, a member of the Directorate of Housing and Public Works here.

The fencing will begin at the main staging area at the old PX lot next to the cemetery with a temporary staging area at Lee Gate, Tom added.

Following the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, then-Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Jack Keene, ordered installations to erect perimeter fencing. This is funded as an Army military construction project, said Charles Peddy, West Point’s force protection officer, because of the cost involved.

Joanne Crawford, the Army Corps of Engineer’s project manager, said P&K received notice of the contract award in August, but had to delay starting the project.

“They haven’t begun any of the physical work yet because of the weather,” Crawford said.

The more than $2 million project is scheduled to be finished in September 2006. During the work phase of the project, community members may meet work crews at the construction areas and at the perimeter of the reservation.

Members of the community wanting to discuss any concerns should call 446-5379 or 938-2333. For more information, call DHPW customer service, 938-4407.