A super-heavy, super-sized load is heading up Highway 63 starting in the early morning of March 6.
The 444,000-kilogram monster is 8.7 meters wide, 10.2 meters tall, and 69.5 meters long. It requires a trailer with 192 wheels to carry it up the highway to Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo.
The heavy wide load will make its way up Highway 63 until it arrives at its final destination on the night of March 9th.
Due to its large size and weight, it will only travel at 60 km/h and will use the entire width of the highway, including the shoulder. At times, it will even travel against the flow of traffic. In some areas, power line lifts will be required.
According to the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors, the planned schedule is:
Day 1 March 6 (Early Morning)
- Exit from 9325 51 Avenue, Edmonton
- 51 Avenue Eastbound
- 75 Street Southbound
- Whitemud Eastbound counterflow
- Highway 216 Southbound counterflow
- Highway 14 Eastbound (Stage at 14/21 until daylight)
Day 1 March 6 (Day move)
- Highway 14 Eastbound
- Highway 36 Northbound
- Highway 45 Eastbound (park at Two Hills Scale)
Day 2 March 7 (Day Move)
- Highway 45 Eastbound
- Highway 36 Northbound
- Highway 29 Eastbound
- Highway 36 Northbound
- Highway 28 Westbound
- Highway 63 Northbound (park at Radway scale)
Day 3 March 8 (Day move)
- Highway 63 Northbound
- Highway 55 Eastbound
- Highway 63 Northbound (park at POE Staging area)
Day 4 March 9 (Night Move)
- Highway 63 Northbound
- Use ramps in Fort McMurray to avoid overpasses.
- Highway 63 Northbound (use Suncor Ramp to miss overpass)
The load will be escorted by four pilot vehicles that will block off lanes, close intersections and facilitate its movement along the route. At times, there will also be a police escort to control traffic.
Motorists who encounter this convoy will experience delays and are asked to watch for the guide vehicles and flag people assisting the move.