Huntsville is seeing more road congestion after a federal return-to-office order came into effect this month, officials say.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 20, mandating all federal employees return to in-person work full-time. The Office of Personnel Management provided a 30-day compliance deadline guidance, which ended on Wednesday of last week, Feb. 19.

The 38,000-acre U.S. Army base at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville hosts several commands, including the Army Aviation and Missile Command and Space and Missile Defense Command. It also has a significant FBI footprint and hosts NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

Amelia Hice, a spokesperson for the Army garrison at the arsenal, said the location saw a 15% surge in traffic, and now 46,000 to 48,000 are currently coming through the gates. That includes retirees, spouses, people living on the post, recreational badge holders and deliveries.

“The traffic at the arsenal was already more than pre-COVID numbers because many agencies at the arsenal returned to work at the end of last summer,” she said.

“The rise in traffic on Thursday (last week) was potentially the return of those who were still in a telework status as that was the last day to return to in-person work,” Hice said in an email to AL.com Wednesday.

The city of Huntsville said it has noticed more traffic on the road, especially around the army base.

“While we’ve noticed more cars on the roads in the past week, the main areas of congestion are along roads leading into Redstone Arsenal,” Nicholas Nene, Huntsville director of traffic engineering, said in an email Thursday.

“…increased traffic may lead to sudden stops or longer wait times due to the increased demand,” Nene said, urging more caution on the road.

The director said commuters need to use navigation tools like ALGO Traffic or Waze to get updates on the most efficient routes in real-time.

“By planning and staying alert, drivers can help improve overall traffic flow and ensure a safer, more efficient commute for everyone,” he said. He explained the need for “drivers to be patient and consider leaving a few minutes early to reach their destination on time, particularly if heading to Redstone Arsenal or nearby businesses.”

Because of the surge, the arsenal now needs more gate guards. Those interested should apply through USAJobs.gov and “enter Redstone Arsenal for listings,” Hice said.

“We have hired as many gate guards as possible and continue to recruit more,” Hice noted.

While the garrison announced a return to “full, normal operations” beginning Feb. 20, NASA’s Marshall Center is adopting a phased return.

NASA’s spokesperson Lance Davis said the agency is complying with the federal executive order but is working through a “phased return,” with the target of having 95% of the Marshall workforce back on site by Friday, Feb. 28.

“A small percentage of our employees will remain on time-limited remote work or telework agreements in accordance with approved criteria, including allowances for hardships and medical needs,” according to Davis.

“Employee services are being adjusted to reflect the increased onsite presence,” David added. “Our NASA Marshall workforce remains committed to supporting the agency’s missions of exploration and discovery for the benefit of all.”