Historic “super load” weighing almost 1 million pounds passes through Washington
The Washington State Patrol says that the heaviest load ever to pass through the state will be on the move tonight.
The windmill transformer is currently on the last leg of a two day journey through the Gorge to a site east of Goldendale.
The load is being moved by heavy rigging specialist Omega Morgan with assistance from the Washington State Department of Transportation, the Washington State Patrol, and the Klickitat County Sherriff’s Department.
According to a news release from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the super load is 360 feet long, and 21 feet tall. The Washington State Patrol says that it weighs “just under 1 million…944,800!”
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) calls the super load the “largest commercial load to ever be weighed by WSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers.”
The super load began its journey on Monday, September 17, moving only at night in order to minimize traffic disruptions along State Route 14 and US 97. Tonight between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., it is scheduled to complete its 47 mile journey to the Goldendale windfarms Rockcreek Substation.
The Seattle Times reports that the massive load has a total of 48 axles and requires three trucks — one in the front pulling and two in the rear pushing.
You can take a look at road closure details from WSDOT below.
10 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 18, through 4 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19
- Both directions of US 97, between the SR 14/US 97 interchange and Hoctor Road (milepost 9.32) will close intermittently with flaggers directing traffic.
The photos below were sent in by CDLLife reader Jim Pies.
