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Camp Lejeune gets a $3 billion revamp

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — It’s easy to look around this base and find buildings that date to the early 1940s.

At that time, the Corps’ premiere East Coast base was abuzz with construction. Crop fields and forests thick with pine trees were being replaced by office buildings, barracks, chow halls and training facilities. The base hasn’t seen another building boom like it — until now.

More than $1 billion worth of construction is underway at Lejeune, and soon several modern facilities will exist among the base’s more than 188 historic buildings. All told, the base has received $3 billion for construction that’s funded through 2012. An overview of current and future projects:

Barracks

About two-thirds of Lejeune’s 94 barracks were built at least 20 years ago. Through 2012, several will be renovated, and new ones will be built, including five at Camp Geiger. By 2015, the base will have about 150 barracks, according to Nina McBroom, director of Lejeune’s Bachelor Housing Division.

Chow halls

About 5.6 million meals are served each year at Lejeune’s 12 chow halls. Plans call for consolidating dining rooms by closing older chow halls and building at least two new ones that are more centrally located to work areas and barracks.

Regimental complex

Construction began earlier this year on a complex for 8th Marines. It will sit on 165 acres in the Wallace Creek area near the base’s main exchange and include a headquarters building, facilities for vehicles and equipment, and barracks.

MarSOC

Except for a few finishing touches, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command’s new headquarters building is complete. Located in Stone Bay, MarSOC’s new headquarters will eventually be joined by a schoolhouse, where spec ops recruits will endure portions of the Initial Training Course. Barracks are under construction.

Exchange

The base’s main exchange is getting a 40,000-square-foot addition. Plans include consolidating the main exchange with the Hadnot Point Annex, a smaller store. Once the expansion is complete, the current facility will be renovated. The estimated $20 million project is expected to begin next summer and be finished in 2011.

Main gate

In April, the Corps awarded a $13.3 million design contract for a new entryway, with connecting roads and bridges leading to the base’s mainside area. The project, estimated to cost as much as $200 million, will begin next year with construction of a new bridge spanning more than 2,000 feet across Northeast Creek, connecting the Tarawa Terrace housing area to mainside. Overall, the project will include 7½ miles of new roads and eight bridges.