WEST POINT — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at West Point Lake will close several of its areas to public access Thursday, Aug. 29 to host soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 3rd Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia for a training exercise.

“We are always happy to support our men and women in uniform and to welcome them to West Point Lake,” said David Barr, supervisor park ranger at the West Point Project.

To ensure safety and security for the soldiers engaged in the training exercise, the following locations will be closed to the public: the roadway crossing West Point Dam, the road to the powerhouse, Anderson Park and the lower portion of the lake from the dam north to channel buoys 9 and 10.

The boat ramp at Anderson Park closed on Wednesday, Aug. 28 in preparation for the exercise. Access to the lower portion of the lake will be restricted during the training exercises. Signs and cones will be placed to assist in directing visitors around the training area. All areas are scheduled to reopen after 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Soldiers will be stationed at the entrance of the closed locations, while law enforcement agencies will provide security at the water-landing zone via patrol boats. Commuters who drive across the West Point Dam roadway between Alabama and Georgia should plan ahead to use alternate routes.

“West Point Lake was chosen as a training site for this one-day exercise as it provides a large area for safe landing in the water and adequate land-based areas for staging purposes,” Barr said.