Megaload proposal in feds' hands

COEUR d'ALENE - A request for special-use permits to transport megaloads of oil refinery equipment through Coeur d'Alene is now in the federal goverment's hands.

Scotty Fellom, Idaho Transportation Department spokesman, said Region 1 ITD staff has forwarded the proposal of hauler Mammoet USA South and corresponding public comments to the Federal Highway Administration.

The feds will make the decision whether to issue permits for the three loads destined for the Calumet Refinery in Great Falls, Mont. The loads are 472 feet long, 27 feet wide, 16 feet tall and weigh 1.6 million pounds.

"I suspect it will take the feds a week or two to review (the package)," said Jason Minzghor, ITD operations manager.

Mammoet had hoped to transport the loads starting this month. They are on hold at the Port of Wilma near Clarkston, Wash.

Minzghor said ITD doesn't make a recommendation to the feds on whether or not to approve the permits, but added "there's no reason to not let them go through."

"They're safe, there's no hazardous materials and there's a traffic control plan," he said.

An open house on the proposal drew 67 attendees to ITD in Hayden last month. Twenty-nine written comments were submitted during the public comment period with 19 in opposition and 10 in favor.

Those against the proposal fear the loads could cause road damage and harm the environment. They are also concerned that Coeur d'Alene could became the default route for megaloads in North Idaho.

People in favor of the proposal said they were impressed with the safeguards and Mammoet's plan. Job creation was also cited as a positive.

Federal approval is needed because a temporary access to Interstate 90 (a federal highway) west of Higgens Point is proposed.

Shipments would exit I-90 at the Sherman Avenue interchange, travel 5.5 miles along east Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive (a state highway), pass under the freeway overpass west of Higgens Point and re-enter I-90 at the temporary on-ramp to bypass Veterans Memorial Bridge.

The bridge isn't approved to hold loads as heavy as the megaloads.

Each shipment would close I-90 at the on-ramp at night for about 10 minutes, transportation officials said. Single-lane closures to remove concrete barriers on the freeway for the on-ramp would be about two hours.

The lane and road closures would be during non-peak times, transportation officials said. Transportation of the loads would occur three to four weeks apart.