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With two deliveries complete and five more set to take place over the next two weeks, the Michigan State Police is reminding motorists traveling between L’Anse and Negaunee to use extra caution and be prepared for delays when traveling at night on US- 41.
The more than 50 mile stretch of highway will experience delays Sunday through Thursday nights with both lanes of traffic being blocked by an ultra wide load.
When the Palabora arrived in L’Anse last week with a special delivery, it brought 10 enormous engines with it that are one by one making their way down the stretch of road to two UP power facilities.
“So basically we have a couple of generators. They’re already in L’Anse. They will transport from L’Anse, Michigan to Eagle Mills in Negaunee. Basically there will be a couple of squad cars leading the semi trailer and a couple of squad cars trailing the trailer. If you’re oncoming, they’ll ask you to pull over. Once the load goes by, and the squad cars go by, you’re free to travel again,” said Sgt. Jeremy Cleary of the Michigan State Police, Calumet post.
Weighing in at 650,000 pounds, each engine traveling to Negaunee requires three tractors and a dual trailer assembly as the engines alone are 20 feet wide and over 45 feet long.
The dual trailer assembly contains 192 wheels that are independently maneuverable.
Along with periodic stops to release traffic build up, there are five of those passing lanes along the route.
Cleary said, “Top speeds are 5 – 25 miles an hour. 25 is tops so there’s not going to be any chance to get by them. The load will pull over at the passing lanes and troopers will tell you that you can pass. You have the one outside of L’Anse, the one by Canyon Falls, there’s another one by Tioga Creek, and then you’re stuck behind them for a while until maybe close to Van Riper Park, and then right before Negaunee you have that passing lane.”
As well the sheer size and mass requiring cautious precision, another factor slowing down the process is that some of the overhead utilities have to be adjusted while the convoy passes underneath them.
“All of the power lines have been lifted, but cable lines and things like that they actually have to go and lift them as the transport goes,” Cleary said.
Transporting of the natural gas generators is a multi jurisdictional effort, with neighboring agencies also assisting the move.
Cleary said, “Once it gets into Marquette County, I believe Marquette County and the State Police in Negaunee will be taking over from there.”
Sgt. Cleary says to leave yourself extra time when traveling that section of road between 10 pm and 5 am until June 22nd when the final Negaunee load will have been delivered. “I think what people are most worried about probably is how long they’re going to be stuck behind this trailer. If you’re stuck behind it, it’s going to be frustrating for a little while so you just have to plan for it. If you have someplace to be or stay it might be worth it.”
