LOS ALAMOS, New Mexico, June 15, 2012—Beginning Monday, June 18, all vehicles entering Los Alamos National Laboratory’s (LANL) Vehicle Access Portal at East Jemez Road must use center lane number 4 between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. weekdays and all day on weekends. All other lanes will be closed during LANL’s non-work hours.

During these hours, drivers and bicyclists must stop at the center lane guard post and proceed only upon verbal or hand-signal direction from a LANL protective force officer. Orange traffic safety cones will be used to funnel vehicle traffic into the center lane. All drivers are reminded that the speed limit approaching the Vehicle Access Portal is 15 miles per hour and to merge safely and courteously.

"This change implements a more effective vehicle screening and control process," said Jack Killeen, LANL’s Physical Security Division leader, noting that LANL recently implemented other security measures as a result of recommendations made during a recent review of Laboratory protective measures by a joint Department of Defense and Department of Energy security assessment.

Those measures include an increase in random inspections of all vehicles transiting the Laboratory, to include West and East Jemez roads and roadways leading to the main Laboratory administrative area, Technical Area 3.

Laboratory employees headed to work are reminded that certain prohibited articles are not allowed on Laboratory property, even in personal vehicles. Those items include nongovernment-owned firearms, other dangerous weapons and explosives, alcoholic beverages and illegal substances. Employees in possession of prohibited articles may be required to return home to remove those items from their vehicle before being allowed to return to work.

"We’re doing our best to meet our security objectives while minimizing impacts on local businesses and tourists," said Killeen.

Write to spp-questions@lanl.gov with questions or for more information.