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Next mega load expected by the end of the month

Posted: Feb 14, 2011 3:41 PM by Allyson Weller (KPAX News)
Updated: Feb 14, 2011 4:09 PM

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MISSOULA - The second ConocoPhillips mega load is expected to leave Lewiston, Idaho this week and should arrive in Montana by the end of the month.

But until then, the first shipment will be resting along U.S. Highway 12 near Lolo Pass. People from all over Montana and Idaho stopped to see the mega load that arrived this weekend.

"Seeing it against the backdrop of our wild country is really really shocking and disheartening," said University of Montana professor Katie Kane.

ConocoPhillips spokesman Bill Stephens from says the state of Idaho prefers to have the shipments travel separately, while Montana agreed to let them travel together. Both loads are making their way to Billings Montana, and will make at least 18 more stops in Montana.

Stephens says the second load is a little bit bigger than the first.

"Folks will be curious and they're always stopping by our shipment to check them out and have a look at them during the daytime, and that's fine. Again our mission is to move this equipment very safely and with minimal impact on the community and so the evening travel works perfect for that we have plenty of lighting, you can't miss us coming through."

Stephens also told us the trip has been smooth so far. There was one a night where the equipment carrying the load scraped against a rock wall, but the load was not damaged. He says they are working out the kinks as they go along.

"We work the kinks out on these kinds of things, we have a very well trained crew that are constantly adjusting. We tweak our procedures as we go to work it best, because there's nothing better than the actual on the road experience to learn from."

Stephens says updates are available by calling 866.535.0138. That toll free line is updated each day that the loads are traveling. It will help travelers avoid the mega loads.

Topics: megaload, big rig, Idaho, Lolo Pass, ConocoPhilips

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