FORT McMURRAY — Drivers using highways 28 and 63 could face delays this week as a massive, slow-moving industrial load makes its way north toward Fort McMurray.
The convoy is scheduled to reach Highway 28 on Tuesday, July 14, travelling west before stopping at the Radway Scale at about 8 p.m.
It will resume travelling at daylight Wednesday, continuing west on Highway 28 before turning north onto Highway 63.
The convoy will travel at a maximum speed of 50 km/h and use the entire width of the highway, including the shoulder. It will occasionally travel against the normal flow of traffic, requiring lanes to be blocked.
Drivers using Highway 28 and the southern portion of Highway 63 could face delays throughout Wednesday as the convoy travels north before stopping at the May Tower South Rest Area at about 5:30 p.m.
The load will resume travelling north on Highway 63 at daylight Thursday, July 16, and is expected to reach a staging area about 35 kilometres south of Fort McMurray at approximately 3 p.m.
The convoy will remain there until shortly after midnight Friday.
At 12:15 a.m. on July 17, the convoy will resume travelling north on Highway 63 and pass through Fort McMurray.
Because of the height of the load, the convoy will use highway ramps through the community to avoid overpasses before continuing north.
The load is expected to reach another staging area about 12 kilometres north of Fort McMurray at approximately 6:30 a.m.
The final stage of the journey will begin at midnight Saturday, July 18, when the convoy continues north on Highway 63.
The load will travel against the normal flow of traffic along portions of Highway 63 before turning west onto Voyageur Road.
It will use counterflow traffic along portions of Voyageur Road before continuing south on Aostra Road and entering its destination site at approximately 8 a.m.
The load being transported is a de-methanizer pressure vessel used in natural gas processing.
Including its support equipment, the unit weighs 523,300 kilograms and measures 104 metres long, 6.5 metres wide and nearly eight metres high.
The vessel is being carried on trailers containing 352 wheels and will be accompanied by guide vehicles throughout the journey.
The seven-day trip begins late Sunday night in south Edmonton before travelling east and north through several communities on its way to Highway 28.
Drivers travelling along highways 28 and 63 during the move are being advised to expect delays, watch for guide vehicles and obey traffic controls around the convoy.
Motorists can check current highway conditions, closures and delays through Alberta 511 before travelling.
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