Facts about The Big Move
In early December, the Missoulian newspaper reported on the movement of some specialized equipment through Missoula County scheduled to begin next year. I have received a number of inquiries from Members regarding the article, and thought I would share what I know about the project that we at MEC have nicknamed “The Big Move”.
Imperial Oil, a Canadian corporation, has contracted with a company in Korea for the construction of pre-assembled processing units for use in the oil and gas industry. These units will be shipped from Korea to the Port of Vancouver, and on to Lewiston, Idaho, via the Columbia and Snake Rivers. All of these payloads will pass through Missoula County as they make their way from Lewiston en route to the Kearl Oil project in northern Alberta. A copy of the proposed route map is included below.
What makes these loads so special is their incredible size. Here are some interesting facts regarding the largest of the anticipated loads:
• The units, including tractor and trailer, will measure a whopping 162 feet long, 24 feet wide and nearly 30 feet tall
• Each trailer will consist of 12 rows of axels with eight tires per row
• A total of 207 loads of varying sizes will travel the route from the fall of 2010 to the fall of 2011
• Two lane roads such as Highways 12 and 200 will be closed in both directions with delays of no more than 10 minutes
• Targeted move times in our area include: (Lolo Pass to Lolo - 2:30p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) (Lolo to just north of Bonner – Midnight to 4:00 am) (Bonner to Bowman’s Corner 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
Selecting a route that can handle trucks of this magnitude was obviously a challenge. Existing low-clearance overpasses on the Interstate system and railway tunnels eliminated most routes from consideration. Required modifications to the route ultimately selected include the construction of road turnouts to facilitate traffic flow, and raising or burying of more than 700 overhead utility crossings, with Missoula Electric Cooperative having more crossings than any other affected utility.
During the past few months, your MEC engineering and operations staff has been working to permanently redesign more than 160 utility crossings to accommodate the movement of these large loads through our service territory, with the cost of these modifications being borne by the oil company. The Montana Department of Transportation is currently reviewing this project in its entirety, and once approved, our construction crews will get to work installing taller poles and burying underground lines when ground conditions allow next spring. The goal for the project is to have the route ready for a “test validation module” by mid-summer of 2010.
Fortunately, much of our work can be accomplished without affecting electrical service to our members; however some periods of interruption along the route may be required in order for our crews to perform the work safely. Whenever possible, the staff of MEC will work to provide advance notice of any pre-planned outages that are necessary as part of this project. As always, be sure to give me a call if you have any questions or concerns. Happy New Year to all!
Mark Hayden
General Manager