Drivers may see several large military vehicles on the roads as army reservists return to Chilliwack for an annual training exercise.

The Canadian Army will be conducting its annual bridging-and-rafting exercise, known as Exercise Paladin Response, in the Cultus Lake area and OPSEE DND training area from Dec. 26 to 31.

The exercise allows soldiers to practise bridge-and-raft design, planning and construction.

A primary role of the Royal Canadian Engineers (combat engineers) is to provide the army with mobility support, which includes the physical construction of fixed and floating bridges, which would be used to cross water or land gaps during domestic operations such as earthquakes, fires and floods. But, the skills learned can be applied abroad and in combat as well.

Lieut.-Col. Stephen Piers calls the exercise a "crucial" element of mobility support.

鈥淲e will practise operating assault boats, assembling medium floating bridges, constructing medium girder bridges, and building prefabricated modular steel Acrow bridges," Piers said. "Through mentorship and practice, this training will allow 39 Combat Engineer Regiment along with soldiers from reserve combat engineer regiments across Canada to better respond to humanitarian disasters or combat mobility requirements.鈥�

The training at Cultus Lake will be focused around the Maple Bay Boat Launch and campground areas. There will be increased traffic of large military vehicles between the Col. Roger St John Armoury at 5535 Korea Rd. and these training sites. This may lead to increased traffic congestion, particularly around the Vedder Bridge and along Columbia Valley Road to Maple Bay, Cultus Lake.

Driving through these areas from Dec. 26 to 31 may take longer than normal, and the Canadian Army is reminding the public that "safety, especially when sharing the road with large military vehicles, is paramount."