Ground Breaking Starts Construction of Bridgeport Commissary

By Mario Icari, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Public Affairs Office

BRIDGEPORT, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest and members of the Marine Corps Mountain Training Center (MCMWTC) in Bridgeport, Calif., celebrated the start of construction of a commissary facility with a ground breaking ceremony, March 27.

Officer in Charge of Construction Marine Corps Installations West Commanding Officer Capt. Michael Williamson; Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) representative Ben Wainwright; MCMWTC Commanding Officer Col. Philip Chandler; MCMWTC Executive Officer Lt. Col. John Carroll; KBR Operations Director Roy Raines; and local representatives from Lincoln Military Housing in Colville were in attendance at the ceremony.

The 17,241 square foot project includes a 13,353 square foot commissary and a 3,888 square foot Marine Mart convenience store.

The project supports the Marine Corp Mountain Warfare Training Center Command and was developed by NAVFAC Southwest in conjunction with DeCA and Marine Corps Community Services.

"One of this project's benefits is that the families of the Marines and Sailors stationed here, in the most remote base the Marine Corps has in [continental united states], will not have to drive 45 minutes to get to a grocery store," said James Castelluzzo, NAVFAC Southwest design manager for this project. "This will decrease the travel time during inclement weather that families will have to be on the road to get basic necessities."