Cd'A may see megaloads

COEUR d'ALENE - A proposal to transport oversized loads on U.S. Highway 95 and Interstate 90 is another step closer to becoming reality.

Mammoet, the contract hauler for Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil, has submitted a travel plan to the Idaho Transportation Department proposing to transport 60 oversized loads through the area.

A start date for the shipments hasn't been determined as ITD engineers have just started analyzing the plan. ITD does not have an estimate of when it will complete the analysis.

The travel plan must be approved by ITD before a permit for oversized loads can be issued.

Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene, said he doesn't expect the proposed loads to create as big of a stink up north as they have on U.S. 12 through central Idaho.

"Because these loads can travel on I-90, they are more comparable to oversized loads than megaloads," Hammond said. "What they have done is break down some of the loads into smaller loads."

The equipment is headed from the Port of Lewiston to an oil sands project in Alberta, Canada.

Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, said ITD commonly issues oversized load permits for agriculture equipment, grain silos and turbine blades. He said previous shipments on U.S. 12 have happened without incident.

"The shipper posts a huge bond to repair any damage," Henderson said.

Hammond and Henderson said they both support moving the loads through the area.

"Supporting these loads supports our economy, supports our national security and supports our relationship with our most friendly trading partner, Canada," Hammond said.

Henderson said it should be recognized that the purpose of the equipment is to produce more oil in Canada.

"With gasoline approaching $4 a gallon, we should be urging more shipments like these so we need less oil from foreign sources," Henderson said.

But Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, has some concerns.

"I believe our roads may be in better condition to handle the large loads, but they are also much more traveled and I question the inconvenience to local citizens and the delays to commerce," he said.

Some residents along U.S. 12 said the loads will hurt tourism, delay emergency responders, dam the scenic byway and damage roads.

Imperial Oil/ExxonMobile Spokesman Pius Rolheiser said U.S. 12 was the company's preferred route for the upcoming loads due to it being a more direct route to its destination, but the alternate choice is being pursued due to permit delays.

The largest shipment proposed is 24 feet wide, 15-feet-10-inches-tall and 207 feet in length, including the transport truck and trailer. The heaviest load proposed weighs 165,347 pounds, not including the transport truck and trailer.

Each shipment would move between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., and take three nights. Traffic delays would be limited to 15 minutes.

The proposed schedule is:

• First night - Port of Lewiston to approximately the Latah/Benewah county line.

• Second night - Latah/Benewah county line to three miles east of Coeur d'Alene, stopping at milepost 18.3 in a pullout on the side of I-90.

• Third night - Milepost 18.3 to the Idaho/Montana state line.

Motorists using U.S. 95 would be guided around the shipments by a pilot car or wait at designated pullouts. Vehicles on I-90 will be guided around the loads by pilot car. Two Idaho State Police vehicles would accompany the oversized loads for traffic management and emergency services coordination.