QUANTICO, Va. — Drivers are experiencing major traffic delays in and around Quantico, Virginia since Monday morning due to recently implemented security measures, Prince William County police said.
Marine Corps Base Quantico is a United States Marin Corps installation in Virginia used for training purposes for the Marines.
Base officers are conducting ID checks and vehicle inspections for each person trying to enter the base.
There is significant congestion to the ramp for Marine Corp. Memorial, a busy intersection of Fuller Road at Route 1. And backups on Fuller Road leading up to the base entrance.
The police department has received an influx of calls regarding the traffic back-up in the area.
Police are asking drivers to use caution and to have patience while driving through the area. Those who are making their way on the base are instructed to have their IDs ready.
On Jan 2., President Donald Trump ordered the strike against General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, after the death of an American contractor in Iraq.
Since the incident, United States officials are braced for Iran to respond to the killing of its most powerful general. They're noting heightened levels of military readiness in the country and preparing for a possible “tit-for-tat” attempt on the life of an American military commander, so the U.S. is reinforcing its positions in the region.
On Friday morning, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in D.C. was swarmed with increased security following a report on base.
Officials from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling said they looked into the report and determined there was no issue but decided to have increased security for caution.
People near the base told WUSA9 D.C. police officers were instructing drivers to not go on base during the increased security measure.
Officials said there was never a lockdown on their premises and all gates and roads were reopened following the incident.
In recent months, there have been violent incidents reported at several bases in the nation. Last month an aviation student shot and killed three people at the Naval Air Station Pensacola. Before that incident, a sailor opened fire and killed two civilian employees before taking his own life at U.S. Naval base in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
