CAMP LEJEUNE (AP) -- Thousands of cars will have to bypass Camp Lejeune now that the Marine Corps base has closed NC 172 to cars just passing through the base.

Marine officials estimate 3,200 cars travel through the base on weekends and 1,400 on weekdays.

Unauthorized vehicles are being banned from the roadway because of security concerns and those without a Department of Defense decal won't be allowed to pass a sentry post.

Vehicles without the decal will be routed around the base via US 17 and NC 24, which officials said would add 9 to 10 minutes to the trip.