Big rigs with even bigger loads are on the move again as Ohio prepares to transport two "super loads" bound for the burgeoning Intel plant construction site in Licking County. According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, these gargantuan convoys are departing from Adams County, with the first leaving this Friday and the next following on Saturday.
The first of these hauls, referred to as Super Load 25, is a hefty receiver weighing 258,000 pounds and stretching nearly 175 feet in length. It's joined by Super Load 26, an absorber weighing a mere 132,000 pounds yet impressive at 80 feet long. The state department detailed on the Ohio Department of Transportation website that these behemoths will make their way to Rickenbacker before a Sunday delivery.
The itineraries for these super loads have Load #25 setting off from Manchester on October 11 and Load #26 taking the same path on the 12. They won't be lollygagging either. Come Sunday at 6:30 a.m., Load #25 hits the road from Rickenbacker to the Intel site, with Load #26 hot on its heels. For those curious or potentially inconvenienced, the detailed route and expected times are listed on ODOT's website.
While you might expect the transport of such monolithic machinery to create chaos on the roads, ODOT assures that traffic disruptions should stay on the slim side, noting, "Since these loads are smaller than the largest loads moved over the summer, the traffic impacts are expected to be minimal." According to the Ohio Department of Transportation. A fleet of Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers will provide an escort to ease any potential hiccups, ensuring other drivers and emergency traffic can navigate the rolling roadblocks with little disruption.
ODOT hasn't just thrown a dart at a map to decide the route; they've collaborated with local governments and utility companies to ready the path for these massive movers. Overhead signs, traffic signals, and utility lines have been tweaked to make room for the upcoming cargo caravan. Regular updates and perhaps a sign-up for more direct alerts are available for those interested or affected at transportation.ohio.gov/superload.