CTDOT 'Super Load' Project Scheduled

From CTDOT: There is an upcoming “Super Load” project that is slated to travel on the roads running through Granby. This project is scheduled by DOT to begin February 12, 2017 and run for several weeks with (6) separate individual loads to be moved. Each move will take approximately (6) full nights through several communities to move the loads approximately (90) miles to Oxford. The State will be transporting these very large turbines and generators to the Oxford power plant. The loads will arrive via a (20) axle rail cars on route 75 just South of Perimeter Road. The units will be moved on a self-propelled trailer platforms that move at only 3-5mph for the entire (90) miles to the power plant. The loads are approximately 200’ long, 13’6” high, 21’ wide, and range in weight from (1) million to (1.5million) lbs.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible to issue the oversize overweight permits for the movement of these very large heavy loads. DOT selects the state roads that the load will travel and some of the selected roads run through Granby. This project has these very large pieces of the power plant going to the new Towantic Power Plant, located in Oxford, CT.

The specific routes have been carefully plotted out due to the size and weight by DOT personnel and engineers. There are several steel bridge jumpers required to be put in place on bridges selected by the engineers during the move.

The size of these loads may significantly impact traffic due to their width.

The State Police will monitor and escort the super loads on the specific state roadways listed by DOT in the permit from the origin to the Oxford destination. The Truck Squad escort teams per the permit will consist of a State Police supervisor and a team of specially trained troopers who escort loads within and thru the State of Connecticut from start to finish. Due to the excessive width of each load we at times will cause one and one half lanes to be compromised during each move.

When the loads are traveling on single lane roads in each direction, traffic will not be able to pass the load, requiring short detours or alternate routes.

Listed below are the streets in Granby that are listed on the DOT permit to be used during each move:

Route 20 from East Granby Town Line

Route 202 / Salmon Brook Road South to Simsbury Town Line

Image via Pixabay