Fort Leavenworth ? A total of 708 new housing units for military families at Fort Leavenworth will be built over two years starting in March.

The project and other improvements at the Army post in northeast Kansas are part of a 50-year contract with Michaels Military Housing, LLC, representing a $1.19 billion investment in base housing.

The plans were announced Wednesday by Sen. Pat Roberts, the Kansas Republican who worked last year to allow more installations to be included in the Army’s Residential Communities Initiative.

“These housing developments and initiatives will play an important role as Congress works to improve the quality of life for our nation’s men and women in uniform,” Roberts said.

Under the program, the Army is privatizing family housing at Army posts, with a goal of alleviating shortages and eliminating substandard military housing.