Entrance to Cannon restricted

The Curry County Commission approved traffic restrictions Tuesday on a county road bordering Cannon Air Force Base during construction of a new gate at the base.

County Roads Superintendent Danny Davis told the commission base officials have closed Cannon’s main entrance at U.S. Highway 60/84 during the construction, which is expected to last until late August.

Instead they are using County Road R for traffic entering and leaving the base. However, the road, which runs north and south on Cannon’s west side, wasn’t designed for this much traffic, he said.

At his request, the commission approved the following steps until the project is finished:

• reducing speed limits on County Road R from 55 mph to 35 mph.

• posting “flag men” signs, with lights illuminating them, at the construction site.

• posting “no passing” zones near the construction site.

The Curry County Sheriff’s Office now enforces traffic regulations on Curry County R. Davis said he is considering asking base officials to use their security personnel to help control traffic.