FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Residents near Fort Campbell should expect more military vehicles on the road and helicopters in the skies during a 101st Airborne division-wide training exercise that starts next week.
The 101st Airborne Division will hold the training exercise, known as Operation Lethal Eagle III, starting in the late hours of July 31, continuing through Aug. 21, according to a news release.
Training will include air assault operations, small-unit maneuvers, live fire training, artillery firing exercises and aerial gunnery. This training will cause a higher level of noise and activity for the surrounding areas. There will be increased military helicopter flights in and around Hopkinsville due to the use of the Hopkinsville airport as an aviation re-fuel point.
Gate access limited
Additionally, access to Fort Campbell through Angels and Mabry gates will be restricted to authorized personnel only. The following gates will be temporarily closed: Palmyra Gate, 101st Airborne Gate and Lafayette Gate.
All personally owned vehicle traffic without pre-authorization will need to access Fort Campbell through Gates 7 and 10 or any other gate on Fort Campbell Boulevard.
Traffic plans
Convoys of military vehicles will use public roadways between Fort Campbell and Fort Knox. These movements will occur during daylight hours, which may cause temporary disruptions to road traffic, the release said.
The majority of the military traffic on public roads will be on Interstate 24 (from Fort Campbell, Exit 86 to Exit 81), Interstate 169, Western Kentucky Parkway, and Interstate 69.
“We’re alerting the public to reduce inconvenience in travel time and to remind motorists to use extra caution when driving near military vehicle convoys,” Lt. Col. Tony Hoefler, spokesman for the 101st, said in the release. “Our first priority is safety. We encourage the public to plan accordingly and allow extra travel time, especially if traveling on I-24, I-169, Western Kentucky Parkway, I-69 and through construction zones.”
