Officials at Scott Air Force Base have closed the Old Mascoutah Gate on Charles Lane to traffic between 6 and 7:45 a.m.

The gate is located off Illinois 161 near the Lincoln's Landing housing area.

"Of the majority of the 10,000 vehicles that pass through the gates each morning during peak times, less than 300 come through Mascoutah," said Lt. Col. Alan Fiel, commander of the 375th Security Forces Squadron. "We decided that manpower would be best redirected to the other gates."

Morning travelers should instead enter the base through the Belleville Gate on Country Road 1845/Scott Drive or the Cardinal Creek Gate, located on the northeast side of Scott from Pryor Drive.

All other installation access points, to include Mascoutah Gate commercial vehicle traffic, will continue with the following normal operating hours:

The Scott School Gate only is authorized for pass holding parents dropping off students at Scott Elementary or the Youth Center; all other traffic will be denied access.

Contact Security Forces Operations at 618-256-2324 for any questions concerning installation access.