Gate Hours at NSA Bethesda

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Gate Hours at NSA Bethesda

CURRENT GATE OPERATIONS ADVISORIES (See note*)

15MAR24: Please see the latest gate hours listed below. Whenever possible, Gate 3 will follow the hours posted below for regular operations. (Note: Gate operations may change at any time. To have NSAB traffic alerts regarding changes sent directly to your phone, text NSABTRAFFIC to 888-777.)

To receive real-time traffic text alerts for the installation, text NSABTRAFFIC to 888-777.

REGULAR GATE HOURS (EFFECTIVE 15MAR24)

*PLEASE READ CAREFULLY* for full information regarding pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle access. (NOTE REGARDING ADA ACCESS AT GATE 2: During busy vehicle traffic periods, sentries may temporarily close the ADA gate. Anyone with regular authorized access who needs to enter through the ADA Gate should approach and ask the sentry for assistance. The sentry will stop traffic, open the gate and allow the pedestrian through.)

- VEHICLES -

GATE 1 - Open 24/7.
GATE 2 - Open Monday-Friday, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. for inbound and outbound traffic.
GATE 3 (NEX) - Open Monday-Friday, 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. to inbound & outbound traffic.
GATE 5 (USU):
- Regular traffic lanes: DoD ID card holders only. Open Monday-Friday, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. to inbound & outbound.
- Commercial Vehicle Inspections (CVI) lane: Monday-Friday, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., commercial traffic and non-DoD affiliated visitors needing access should proceed to the CVI Lane at Gate 5 for vetting.
- If commercial vehicle traffic is too heavy to facilitate outbound traffic at Gate 5, the NSA Bethesda Security Watch Commander may delay opening outbound lanes.

- PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES -

GATE 1 - Open 24/7.
GATE 2:
- Turnstiles - Open 24/7
- ADA Gate - Monday-Friday, 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. ADA pedestrians may also access the installation via Gate 1 (North Gate) where the Visitor Control Center is located.
- ADA Gate - Weekends - Closed
GATE 3 (NEX) - Open Monday-Friday, 5 to 8 a.m. for inbound and outbound for pedestrians and cyclists.
GATE 5 (USU) - Open 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Closed on weekends.

***

VISITOR CONTROL CENTER OPERATIONS

On Monday, March 23, 2021, the Visitor Control Center at Gate 1 reduced their regular services to processing Foreign National access, DBIDS applications, and vehicle registrations.

***VISITOR ACCESS – INCLUDING PATIENT VISITORS***

VISITORS IN PERSONAL VEHICLES: Visitors traveling by personal vehicle who need installation access, including Patient Visitors, should proceed directly to Gate 5, the Commercial Vehicle Inspection (CVI) gate. There, they will be directed to the left lane of the Gate 5 CVI area for screening and installation access. Gate 5 is open Monday through Friday during normal operating hours.

VISITORS ENTERING WITHOUT A VEHICLE: Pedestrian visitors, including Patient Visitors, who intend to enter the installation without a vehicle, may still use the Visitor Control Center at Gate 1.

For safety, additional guidelines have been implemented at the Visitor Control Center:

Only four customers at a time will be allowed in the Visitor Control Center building.
Social distancing of six feet is required.

Drivers and pedestrians with existing access to the installation may still use Gates 1, 2, or 5.

Requests for access may still be submitted in advance. Access requests take at least 72 hours to process.

Access questions can be directed to the Visitor Control Center (Bldg. 102) by calling 301-295-4607.

*****

Visitor Control Center will be open to process vehicle registration, DBIDS, foreign national access requests and pedestrian access.

All non-DoD personnel without official identification (CAC, DBIDS, etc.) or a DoD ID cardholder sponsor traveling by personal vehicle should proceed to Gate 5 (USU Gate) for vetting.

All vehicles coming onto NSA Bethesda are subject to inspection.

Employees, patients, and visitors should expect and plan for possible delays when accessing the installation.

*Gate hours are current as of May 2, 2023, but gate operations may change at any time. For information, updates, and temporary changes in real time, follow us on social media (@NSABethesda on Facebook and Twitter), or register to received real-time traffic text alerts by texting NSABTRAFFIC to 888-777.

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