A massive piece of refinery equipment traveling on wheels was inching closer to the Flathead Valley this week and, according to officials with the Montana Department of Transportation, was expected to cross into Montana near Thompson Falls on Aug. 18.
The so-called megaload is destined for the Calumet Refinery in Great Falls and will travel through Troy, Libby, Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Bigfork this week. The refinery equipment is 21 feet wide and nearly 17 feet tall and is coming from Idaho. The megaload’s maximum gross weight can reach 1.08 million pounds. Its maximum permitted length is 400 feet, 5 inches.
The massive equipment departed Lewistown, Idaho last week and traveled across northern Idaho along Highway 200 before having mechanical issues just west of the border that prevented it from crossing into Montana over the weekend. According to Dwane Williams of MDT’s motor carriers division, the megaload was expected to arrive in Libby on the morning of either Aug. 19 or Aug. 20.
“Everything is of course subject to change,” Williams said.
From Libby the load will travel to Kalispell and be parked just east of town. On either Aug. 21 or Aug. 22, the load will travel across the Flathead Valley. In Kalispell, the megaload will turn north on Meridian Road and join up with U.S. Highway 93 near Hutton Ranch, before going north toward Whitefish. From there it will turn east on Montana Highway 40 and travel through Columbia Falls. Just east of Columbia Falls, it will turn south on Montana Highway 206 and travel to Montana Highway 35. From there it will travel through Creston and turn east on Montana Highway 83 just north of Bigfork. The load will then be parked along the Swan Highway for the day before continuing its trip to Great Falls.
According to Williams, the megaload will travel exclusively at night in order to avoid traffic, but motorist can expect delays of up to 10 minutes. MDT encourages travelers to seek out other routes if they believe the megaload will delay them. The equipment is being moved by Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. and Montana West Holding Company is providing traffic control.
In recent years, megaloads have sparked controversy in the Pacific Northwest due to their massive weight and size and their impacts on road infrastructure and environmental corridors. Last week, protestors met the eastbound megaload in Moscow and Sandpoint.
Kalispell police chief Roger Nasset said he was unaware of any plans for protests surrounding the megaload move through the valley but said officers would be available if any issues arose.
Officials in Lincoln County were also unconcerned about the megaload moving through Montana. County Commissioner Tony Berget said the load posed few issues to the area because it was moving at night.
“It’ll be a little inconvenient if you’re driving then, but road construction is inconvenient too,” Berget said.