Super heavy loads to delay central, northeast Alberta traffic this week

A purge bin used in the oil and gas industry as a rinsing station. (Source: Government of Alberta)

Two large, slow-moving loads are expected to cause delays in Edmonton and parts of northeast Alberta this week.

The first will travel from Edmonton to Fort McMurray starting Sunday while the second will move from the city to Fort Saskatchewan beginning Tuesday.

Both loads will move with guide vehicles below the posted speed limits and use up the entire width of the highway, including the shoulder.

First load: De-methanizer pressure vessel

A de-methanizer pressure vessel is used in natural gas processing and weighs in at 563,600 kg, including its support equipment.

The load will leave Thermo Design Engineering in south Edmonton on Sunday at 11 p.m. and continue through northern Alberta for seven days.

This is its route, according to an Alberta government news release:

Feb. 22 (leaving at 11 p.m. and stopping at 6:30 a.m.):

• exit from 1424 70 Ave. in Edmonton
• 70 Avenue westbound
• 17 Street southbound
• Whitemud counterflow eastbound
• Highway 216 (Anthony Henday Drive) southbound
• Highway 14 eastbound to Viking

Feb. 23 (begins again at daylight)

• Highway 36 northbound
• Highway 45 eastbound
• stage at Two Hills Scale (6 p.m.)

Feb. 24 (depart at daylight)

• Highway 45 eastbound
• Highway 36 northbound
• Highway 29 eastbound
• Highway 36 northbound
• Highway 28 westbound
• stage at Radway Scale (6 p.m.)

Feb. 25 (depart at daylight)

• Highway 28 westbound
• Highway 63 northbound
• stage at May Tower South Rest Area (5:30 p.m.)

Feb. 26 (depart at daylight)

• Highway 63 northbound
• stage at Point of Entry (POE) 35 km south of Fort McMurray (3 p.m.)

Feb. 27 (leaving at 12:15 a.m. for a night move)

• Highway 63 northbound
• Utilize ramps in Fort McMurray to avoid overpasses
• Highway 63 northbound
• stage at north point of entry 12 km north of Fort McMurray (6:30 a.m.)

Feb. 28 (leaving at midnight)

• Highway 63 northbound
• Highway 63 northbound counterflow
• Voyageur Road westbound counterflow
• Voyageur Road westbound
• Aostra Road southbound
• West and south into site (8 a.m.)

Second load: purge bin

A purge bin, which is used as a rinsing station for oil and gas companies, will leave Dacro in Edmonton on Tuesday at 10 p.m.

This is its schedule through the city to Fort Saskatchewan:

Feb. 24 at 10 p.m.:

• exit 9325 51 Ave. and continue along 51 Avenue eastbound
• Roper Road southbound
• 75 Street southbound
• Whitemud Drive eastbound
• Highway 216 (Anthony Henday Drive) southbound
• Highway 14 eastbound
• stage at HIghway 14/Highway 21 at 4 a.m.

Feb. 26 at 8:30 a.m.:

• Highway 14 eastbound
• Highway 834 northbound
• Highway 15 westbound
• Range Road 221 northbound
• east into the site (DOW) at 4 p.m.

Road reports and up-to-date delays can be found on the Alberta 511 website.