Transport of oversized windmill loads
underway through North Idaho to southern Canada

Starting in mid-October, the first of approximately 300 oversized loads containing windmill parts began traveling from the Port of Lewiston to Alberta, Canada. NexGen Transportation is in the process of delivering the blades (pictured above) and tower sections (pictured below) for 43 windmills.

While not unusually wide, these loads are long – some up to 270 feet. Keep in mind that the average semitruck is only 75 feet long. The largest loads also weigh 240,000 pounds.

The loads have been departing from the Port of Lewiston every night, except Friday and Saturday nights, to travel north on US-95 to Coeur d’Alene before heading east on I-90 into Montana.

Pilot cars are escorting the loads on the two-day journey, with flaggers in place to close the following intersections: Idaho Highway 128 and US-12/US-95 (Lewiston), US-95 and Lincoln Avenue/Walnut Way (Coeur d’Alene) and the I-90 and US-95 interchange (Coeur d’Alene).

Seven loads are expected each night.

“The movement of the 300+ windmill components from the Port of Lewiston along US-95/I-90 corridor coupled with the additional movements along the I-84/I-15 corridor with a follow on destination of Alberta, Canada showcases Idaho’s multimodal freight transportation network and Idaho’s ability to safely support growing national and international transportation networks,” ITD Freight Program Manager Scott Leukenga said.

 

Published 10-30-20