2/3/2011
ConocoPhillips load safely completes second part of journey
KOOSKIA - An oversized ConocoPhillips load safely completed the second segment of its four-night journey across Idaho on U.S. 12 early this morning, arriving at a pullout near Kooskia at approximately 5:20 a.m. (PST).
The load left the Orofino area at about 10 p.m. (PST) Wednesday and successfully navigated a 35-mile stretch of U.S. 12.
Idaho Transportation Department crews and off-duty patrol officers from the Idaho State Police accompanied the oversized load to ensure safe travel and minimize impacts on motorists. Emergency medical personnel, contracted to ConocoPhillips, and pilot vehicles also accompanied the load.
Each load will take four nights to cross Idaho into the Montana border. The third stop will be near milepost 126, about five miles east of the Lochsa Ranger Station. The load will travel to a pullout about eight miles inside the Montana border on the final night.
The next scheduled shipment will leave the Port of Lewiston Monday (Feb. 7) at 10 p.m., weather and highway conditions permitting. The oversized loads will use predetermined pullouts each morning and remain idle throughout the day. Shipments are scheduled between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.
The shipments are 28 feet high, 29 feet wide and 226 feet long and are transported on 24 axles with 96 wheels. Each load weighs about 600,000 pounds.
Motorists using U.S. 12 during the shipments should check 511.idaho.gov or dial 5-1-1 (from within Idaho) for more information. A toll-free number, 1-866-535-0138, has been set up by ConocoPhillips to provide updates on the progress of shipments. It will be updated daily, starting Wednesday, Feb. 2, at noon (PST).
Once ConocoPhillips delivers the first two shipments to its refinery in Billings, Mont., the transport trucks will return to Lewiston and repeat the journey for the two remaining drums. Permits have not been issued for the remaining two ConocoPhillips shipments.