A large, slow-moving load will be moving north from Edmonton to Fort McMurray this week.
The move will take about four days and drivers should use caution as the load will cause delays on highways.
The load will transport a coke drum, which is used in the oil refining process, and will weigh 444,144 kg. The drum is 8.7 metres wide, 10.2 metres high, and 47 metres long. It will be carried by a trailer with 192 wheels.
“Due to its large size and weight, this load will travel at a maximum speed of 60 km/h,” reads a travellers' advisory from the Government of Alberta. “The load will move with pilot/guide vehicles, below posted speed limits using the entire width of the highway including the shoulder.”
When the load has to occasionally travel against the flow of traffic, lanes will be blocked off accordingly, according to information from the province.
Drivers are urged to watch out for guide vehicles, flag people, and police escorts managing traffic along the route.
Route Details
Jan. 7 (early morning): The load will exit Darco Industries Inc., from 9325 51 Avenue, in south Edmonton.
From Edmonton (day move), the load will travel eastbound along Hwy 14 and head north onto Hwy 36. Then it turns eastbound along Hwy 45 before parking at the Two Hills Scale.
Jan. 8 (day move): Load continues to travel via Hwy 45 (eastbound), Hwy 36 (northbound), Hwy 29 (eastbound), Hwy 36 again, then Hwy 28 (westbound) to Hwy 63 (northbound), before stopping at Boyle.
Jan. 9 (day move): Load will continue travelling north via Hwy 63, Hwy 55 (eastbound), then resume travelling along Hwy 63 to a POE staging area.
Jan. 10 (early morning moving): For the final stretch, the load will continue travelling north along Hwy 63 using ramps in Fort McMurray to avoid overpasses.
