Redstone Arsenal officials have a piece of advice for morning commuters in the long-and-growing lines outside the gates: “get an audiobook, bring coffee, settle in and relax.”

The sprawling Arsenal is “almost back to full capacity” from the coronavirus slowdown, deputy commander Martin Traylor told a crowd of business, government and military officials Wednesday at the Von Braun Center during the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s Redstone Update.

He said the complex hosts about 45,500 during a typical day – just shy of 900 active duty and reserve military, along with over 27,000 civilians and 17,000 contractors – and is poised to grow in the next few years through workforce additions to the FBI and many of its other 65 tenant organizations.