New Fort Jackson gate hours due to furloughs

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Starting Monday, July 8, thousands of Defense Department employees will be on furlough. From now until September 21, civilian employees will be required to take off one unpaid day per week. The move is being blamed on federal spending cuts from the March sequester and is expected to save $1.8 billion. The furloughs mean changes at Fort Jackson. New gate hours will go into effect. Officials say during the furlough period, the number of security guards will be reduced. Here are the new gate hours that will be in effect: Gate 1: 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.; inbound and outbound traffic, Monday through Friday 3:30 to 6 p.m.; outbound traffic, Monday through Friday Closed on weekends Gate 2: Open around the clock, seven days a week Commercial traffic on weekends only Gate 4: 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Monday through Friday Closed om weekends Commercial traffic must use Gate 4 on weekdays. Gate 5: Closed