Apache Gate to Close to Traffic for Eight Weeks
Fort Sill plans to shut the gate November 10 to relocate warning lights and remove poles placed too close to the roadway.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Military
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Fort Sill tentatively plans to close Apache Gate on Tuesday, November 10, for approximately eight weeks to complete safety improvements. Passenger vehicles will be redirected to Key Gate East and Key Gate West on Randolph Road during the closure.
Why it matters
Warning light and signal poles were installed too close to the roadway, creating a potential collision hazard for vehicles. Because the removal work involves heavy steel poles adjacent to the pavement, the gate must remain fully closed to all traffic in Lawton and surrounding areas that rely on the installation.
The schedule comes from installation traffic-management planning, with DES stating that approximately eight weeks of closure is expected. Key Gate West reopened October 28, but the exact reopening date for Apache Gate has not been set, pending construction progress and inspections.
The players
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a U.S. Army installation near Lawton, Oklahoma, home to the field artillery and a major training center.
Directorate of Emergency Services (DES)
DES is the Fort Sill office responsible for installation policing, emergency response and traffic management.
The details
Crews will relocate warning light and signal equipment, remove the affected poles, and install an extended overhead mast arm for vehicle clearance. DES has coordinated alternative routes for fire, medical and law enforcement personnel, and commercial and contractor vehicles must use Key Gate West, Lane 3.
Timeline
October 28: Key Gate West reopened following repairs to its vehicle barrier system.
November 10: Apache Gate is tentatively scheduled to close.
Approximately eight weeks after closure: Apache Gate is expected to reopen, pending inspections.
Roadmap
Gate closures for safety upgrades on Army installations follow a pattern of rerouting traffic to nearby gates while maintaining emergency access, as seen in recent repairs at Key Gate West. The Apache Gate work extends that approach to correct poles placed too close to the roadway.
Commuters should allow an additional 15 to 20 minutes during peak travel periods and plan to use Key Gate East or Key Gate West on Randolph Road. Commercial and contractor vehicles must use Key Gate West, Lane 3, during the closure.
The takeaway
Plan extra travel time and confirm your route before November 10, since the closure is tentative and reopening depends on inspections. Passenger and commercial drivers should use the designated alternate gates to avoid delays.
What happens next
Apache Gate is tentatively scheduled to close November 10 and is expected to reopen about eight weeks later, pending construction progress and final safety inspections.
Further reading
Find more base-access updates in the Military section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Army.
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