A state highway that crosses Fort Stewart’s training area will close in early May for a field artillery exercise.

The installation’s air space will also be closed.

Georgia Highway 119 will be closed for 45 minutes or less sometime between midnight and 4 a.m. May 1 so the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, can fire rocket-assisted projectiles from the west side of Fort Stewart’s training area into the an impact area near the middle of the installation.

The post’s Public Affairs Office reports that the Department of Defense requires the area underneath the trajectory of this type of artillery round be clear when fired during training. Rocket-assisted projectiles can travel roughly 20 miles.

The field artillery regiment is assigned to the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Third Infantry Division.

Fort Stewart personnel will man road blocks at the post’s northern perimeter of the highway in Pembroke and at the intersection of Highways 119 and 144 during the exercise. Highway 144 will remain open.

This is the first time in roughly five years a highway has been closed for training, the PAO said.