Page 12 - Flathead Beacon // 8.20.14

12 | AUGUST 20, 2014 FLATHEADBEACON.COM
Megaload Inches Toward Montana, Expected to Arrive in Flathead This Week
The refinery equipment is 21 feet wide and 17 feet tall
By JUSTIN FRANZ of the Beacon
A massive piece of refinery equip- ment traveling on wheels was inching closer to the Flathead Valley this week and, according to officials with the Mon- tana 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, Ka- lispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Bigfork this week. The refinery equip- ment 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 trav- eled across northern Idaho along High- way 200 before having mechanical is- sues just west of the border that prevent- ed it from crossing into Montana over the weekend. According to Dwane Wil- liams 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 Val- ley. 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 Colum- bia Falls. Just east of Columbia Falls, it will turn south on Montana Highway
Protesters hold signs as the megaload rolled through Sandpoint, Idaho last week. PHOTO BY CAMERON RASMUSSON
206 and travel to Montana Highway 35. From there it will travel through Cres- ton 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 mega- load 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 infra- structure and environmental corridors. Last week, protestors met the eastbound megaload in Moscow and Sandpoint.
Kalispell police chief Roger Nas- set 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 mov- ing through Montana. County Commis- sioner 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.
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