Portsmouth Naval Base opens its new front door

Main entrance Improvement works to Portsmouth Naval Base are now complete. During a small ceremony the main contractor, BAE Systems, formally handed over the new-look upgraded ‘Front Door’ of Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, to Captain Bill Oliphant, Captain of the Base (COB).

"I’m really pleased with the upgrading of Trafalgar Gate,” said Capt Bill Oliphant. “Better signage, new guard huts and a canopy providing better lighting as well as weather protection for the Gate staff, are a great improvement to our Front door.

"And, importantly, it should help to alleviate traffic issues a peak times.”

The Project began in October last year and took into consideration the thoughts of Portsmouth City Council, to mitigate the impact on traffic management in the Base and the wider City at peak times.

The project also took into account the increase in personnel and heavy traffic that the New Queen Elizabeth Carriers will bring to the Naval Base.

“There have been challenges to overcome throughout the upgrade programme, but I’m pleased to say that the Team Portsmouth project team have worked very closely with the main contractors Colas to deliver the project to budget and to time.

"It’s another step forward in getting Portsmouth ready for HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales."

Christina Young, project manager for BAE Systems, said: “It’s an exciting time at Portsmouth Naval Base as we get ready to welcome the new aircraft carriers, and it has been a privilege to collaborate with organisations across the base and the city to deliver this project on behalf of the Royal Navy.”