Wide Load Coming to Longview

LONGVIEW — The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is advising motorists traveling through portions of its Atlanta and Tyler districts to be prepared to change their travel routes when a “super load” being transported from the Port of Shreveport to a Longview chemical plant enters Texas on Sunday afternoon. The transport, which left the port this morning, will slow traffic significantly on its route. The load, measuring 275 feet long by 25 feet high and 18 feet wide, is expected to reach U.S. Highway 79 in Panola County at about 1:00pm Sunday, traveling at a maximum of 5 mph. It will travel through Rusk and Gregg counties eventually reaching its destination at 11:00am on Sunday, July 26.

A spokesman for the carrier of the load says its convoy of men and equipment will average 1 mph each day for seven days through Texas. The transporter will have one truck pulling and one truck pushing the combined weight of 611,000 lbs. Multiple utility and electric companies, as well as law enforcement, are involved throughout the event to ensure continuation of service and safety in the area. TxDOT personnel will also keep an eye on the load as it makes its way along the Texas route. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the planned route during the scheduled times.

Route and Timeline for Texas starting on Day 4 of the move:

Day 4, Monday, July 20, 2015
6:00AM – Transporter continues on the US 79 route from Panola
5:00PM – Transporter stops at US 79 and SH 31 in DeBerry for the night

Day 5, Tuesday, July 21, 2015
7:30AM – Transporter continues on route from US 79 and SH 31 in DeBerry
2:00PM – Transporter crosses Sabine River in the center lane at 5 mph with no other traffic on the bridge
5:00PM – Park for the evening on US 79 (Northeast Loop) in Carthage

Day 6, Wednesday, July 22, 2015
7:15AM – Transport begins east of the loop in Carthage
2:00PM – Transporter will make a right on US 79 (Northeast Loop) in Carthage
3:00PM – Transporter will make a right on US 59
4:00PM – Transporter will park on right side of road 1 mile north of the Loop on US 59 for the night

Day 7, Thursday, July 23, 2015
6:30AM – Transport begins from US 59 north of Carthage
7:00AM – Makes a left on FM 1794.
2:00PM – Crosses bridge on Luminant Mining Property in the center lane at 5 mph with no other traffic on the bridge.
6:00PM – Transporter parks on Luminant Mining Property at SH 43 just north of Tatum for the night

Day 8, Friday, July 24, 2015
7:30AM – Transport begins moving along SH 43 just north of Tatum (Panola County)
9:00AM – Transporter turns left onto Martin Lane/Spur 43 in Tatum
9:15AM – Transporter turns right onto Whitney Street/Spur 43 in Tatum
10:00AM – Transporter clears the tracks at BNSF Railroad (Rusk County – TxDOT’s Tyler District)
11:00AM – Transporter turns right onto SH 149 in Tatum
5:00PM – Stop on the right side of road at 11973 SH 149 in Longview for the night

Day 9, Saturday, July 25, 2015
6:30AM – Transport begins on SH 149 and crosses under high voltage cables at Knox Lee Power Plant
3:00PM – Pull into parking spot across the street from Walmart for the night

Day 10, Sunday, July 26, 2015
8:00AM – Transporter will turn right onto SH 149/Hill Street just past Walmart
9:00AM – Transporter will turn right onto I-20 S Frontage Road
10:00AM – Transporter will turn right onto Callahan Road at I-20
11:00AM – Transporter arrives at Eastman gate