Examiner

Fort Meade has expanded one of its main gates and closed another to handle thousands of new jobs in the coming years.

The Anne Arundel installation has reopened its gate at Mapes Road and Route 175, but only for authorized Department of Defense employees and military personnel.

The gate had been closed for renovation and now has an added left-turn lane to handle more traffic, said fort spokeswoman Veronica Castro.

Fort Meade is expected to receive 5,000 new jobs on the installation by 2011 with Base Realignment and Closure expansion.

The fort will close its gate at Route 175 and Llewellyn Avenue on Jan. 5. All non-Defense Department visitors must enter through the Reece Road gate on Route 175, which is open every day.