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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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WWII barracks to be demolished

TIMES STAFF WRITER
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FORT DRUM — Within a month, there will be 87 fewer World War II wooden barracks on Fort Drum.

Those buildings, built in 1941, are being torn down to make way for more construction to accommodate units of the 10th Mountain Division. South post will become the new home for the 91st Military Police Battalion, 7th Engineer Battalion and 63rd Explosive Ordnance Device Battalion — which is currently deployed to Baghdad, Iraq.

"We want to tear them all down eventually," said James W. Corriveau, the public works director for Fort Drum. "We are building new facilities on that space and falling in on the old infrastructure."

The demolition of old motor pools along Gasoline Alley has been ongoing this summer. Next month will bring down 87 of the World War II barracks.

Once the wooden barracks are taken down, the first phase of construction will begin. That includes battalion headquarters, company headquarters, and a dining hall for the three units. Barracks also will be built to house 670 soldiers from the three battalions.

"The nostalgic value of this World War II world isn't too much," Mr. Corriveau said. "The Army has lots of stuff from that time period — these buildings weren't supposed to last forever."

These construction projects are all slated to be finished in 2009 and will cost $140 million, according to Mr. Corriveau.

There will be approximately 370 wooden barracks left standing at the end of the month, which will be torn down in stages to make way for more construction.

South post will also become the home to the Maneuver Enhancement Brigade that is slowly being assigned to the 10th Mountain Division over the next five years.

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