Idaho issues mega-load permits
Omega Morgan has been issued a permit to move an oversized load of oil rig equipment across rural Idaho and into Montana. It is ultimately bound for oil fields in Canada.
The Idaho Transportation Department said motorists could expect delays on southern and eastern Idaho highways while the load travels across the state between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. It will not travel between 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 24 and 10 p.m. December 26 or if visibility is less than 500 feet.
The shipment is 23 feet wide, 18 feet, 11 inches high, 382 feet long and weighs 900,001 pounds.
As of Friday, the load was parked on the west side of Vale, Oregon.
A bigger map of its planned route can be seen here.
It will enter Idaho on State Highway 19 from Oregon then travel eastbound on Idaho 19 to U.S. 95, travel south on U.S. 95 to Idaho 55, pass through Marsing and then connect with Idaho 78. It will then travel eastbound on Idaho 78 to Interstate 84 before moving westbound on I-84 to U.S. 20 at Mountain Home.
The Transportation Department said there would be traffic delays on Interstate 84 between exits 99 and 112. The off-ramp at exit 112 will be temporarily closed. Pilot vehicles on I-84 will temporarily delay other eastbound vehicles while the shipment uses eastbound I-84. At an emergency vehicle pull-out, the load will cross over to the westbound lanes and move toward Mountain Home.
From Mountain Home, the load will travel northeast on U.S. 20 to U.S. 20/93 to Arco. At Arco it will travel northeast to Idaho 28 throught the Leadore, Lemhi, and Tendoy area, then on to Salmon and U.S. 93. It will then travel north to the Idaho/Montana state line.
The specific time-line for the trip was not published.
The Idaho Transportation Department said delays will be limited to 15 minutes to other vehicles. Flaggers and pilot vehicles will accompany the transport vehicle and notify the driver when other vehicles are approaching. The shipment will then move to a pull-out, drive to the side of the highway and let other vehicles pass.
