Megaloads downsized

Photo: TOM  BAUER/Missoulian.  A megaload travels east on Interstate 90 near Drummond on Monday. Trucks hauling the equipment bound for the oil sands of northern Alberta are becoming more common on the freeway as the state is allowing more than one a day to move.

Although Imperial Oil received the go ahead back in October to apply for permits to haul their ‘mega loads’ up the two lane Highways 12 and 200, they appear to be shying away from doing so. Instead, they have applied for, and been granted, permits to haul broken-down versions of the equipment (to fit under interstate bridges) along Interstates 90 and 15.

Their original plans were to truck gigantic loads (hence “megaload”) up the scenic, narrow Clearwater and Lochsa River canyons into Montana and from there a controversial route through Missoula and into Canada for use at the Kearl oil sands project.

They met very stiff opposition to their plans from locals in Idaho and Montana, especially from All Against the Haul and Fighting Goliath.

Imperial originally stated that the equipment could not be cut down in size for transport, but that’s exactly what they are now doing. An Imperial spokesman referred to it as ‘slicing and dicing’. In fact, instructions have now been given to the production plants in South Korea to build the equipment in smaller segments right from the get go.

Montana approves Kearl Shipments

Calgary Herald

Nov 08 , 2011

More on Mega Loads

Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil megaloads will pass through Idaho and Montana this summer. They will enter Canada via Sweet Grass, MT. The loads, which will travel on Highway 95 and Interstate 90, will be smaller than the full-sized module pictured here.

Back in April, we posted twice on this topic:

Fighting Goliath

Hauling oilsands equipment thru Montana opposed

Last Friday, Imperial Oil received approval to apply for permits to move two of its ‘mega loads’ – but only on U.S. 95 and I90, and only for ‘chopped down’ versions that would fit under highway overpasses.

However, Imperial has not decided whether to make use of the permits. It’s still hoping for approval to use scenic waterways and highways 12 and 200 in Idaho and Montana.

That route has met with serious opposition from local groups, determined to protect the Lochsa and Clearwater Rivers, and to prevent this ‘Wild & Scenic’ route from becoming an ‘industrial’ route.

Imperial, which was reported to have originally stated that the mega loads could not be reduced in size, is doing just that, at a cost of $500,000 per unit. 33 units are currently sitting at the Port of Lewiston.

The story below was in yesterday’s Calgary Herald.

Imperial may not use Idaho permits
By Dan Healing,
Calgary Herald
June 21, 2011