Rolling nighttime highway closures begin tonight as an extra-wide load is transported from Lloydminster to Fort McMurray.
The load will use both lanes of traffic on non-twinned highways, as well as the shoulders.
According Entrec Corporation project manager Dan Killin, the load will pass Boyle on Highway 63 around 11:30 p.m. on March 12.
Alberta Transportation has required this load to travel at night to minimize traffic disruptions and safety concerns, and it will start travel nightly at 10 p.m.
The load is scheduled to arrive in Fort McMurray in the early morning hours of March 15.
“The rolling closures will take place on the untwinned sections of Highways 16, 36/29, 28 and 63 between Lloydminster and Fort McMurray as the convoy passes, because the load covers the width of two lanes,” Killin stated. “Motorists may face up to 30-minute delays during nightly rolling stops as the load moves on non-twinned sections of highway.”
Killin explained his company didn’t want to divulge what the vessel was, but could confirm it was used to refine bitumen.
When Entrec refused to disclose what it was hauling during similar road closures last July, Alberta Transportation confirmed the load was an IPS, or inclined plate settler. An IPS can be used to process and clean diluted bitumen. It is a giant vessel full of parallel, spaced apart plates that incline downwards.
An Alberta Transportation representative was unavailable for comment as of publication of this article.
“Signs have been posted along the route to notify motorists of the travel dates and times,” Killin explained. “Pilot vehicles, an RCMP escort and flag persons will travel with the loads to control traffic and enhance safety.”
Motorists travelling to or from Fort McMurray are encouraged to take an alternate route. For those wanting to follow along, 511.alberta.ca will be reporting the location of the load.
“Government of Alberta policy requires oversized loads to pull over periodically when travelling at a speed of more than 10 km/h below the posted speed limit,” Killin explained.
Killin said for up-to-date information on delays, call 511 toll-free or follow @511Alberta on Twitter.
