Washington Traffic Alert: Windmill Closing Highways For 2 Nights

ROOSEVELT – If you're heading south and plan to be headed to the Gorge, driving on SR -14 and U.S. 97 on Monday and Tuesday nights – be prepared. You're going to have company.

The Washington Department of Transportation warns that there will be closures both nights so a piece of equipment can be moved.

It's a really big piece of equipment. Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts.

It's a transformer for a windmill, It weighs more than 1 million pounds, is 360-feet long and 21-feet high.

Moving it is going to take more than a couple of guys with a van.

WSDOT says starting at 10 p.m. Monday night, SR-14 will be fully closed between Roosevelt and the interchange with US 97. The closure will last until 4 a.m. on Tuesday.

The next night there will be a closure on US 97 in both directions between the interchange with SR-14 and US 97 and Hoctor Road in Goldendale.

"Moving one of the largest pieces of commercial equipment in state history is no easy task, and has been scheduled overnight to reduce the effect on traffic. It requires careful planning and choreography between all the agencies involved," WSDOT said in a statement.

"We’ve also ensured that emergency response vehicles will be able to get around the load."

Closure details:
10 p.m., Monday, Sept. 17, through 4 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18

• Both directions of SR 14 between Roosevelt (milepost 133.0) and the SR 14/US 97 interchange (SR 14 milepost 100.6/US 97 milepost 0.17) will close.
• Eastbound SR 14 at Dallesport (milepost 84.0) will close intermittently with flaggers controlling traffic.
• Both directions of US 97 between just south of Toppenish and the SR 14/US 97 interchange will close intermittently with flaggers directing traffic.

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.

Photos via WSDOT.