LICKING COUNTY, Ohio — The first of nearly two dozen extremely large truck loads is making its way to central Ohio from the Ohio River, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The first of the truck loads, known as "super loads," left Manchester in Adams County on Wednesday. Most of the loads are associated with the future Intel semiconductor facilities in Licking County.
The first "super load" left Adams County around 8 a.m. just after the last school bus transporting students to Manchester Local Schools passed the site. The load is expected to to cross over and travel the wrong way in the U.S. route 52 Westbound lanes just before the junction of state Route 239 and U.S. Route 52.
It will then travel north on the state Route 239 southbound ramp toward SR 73/SSR 852. The load will park overnight in the West Portsmouth area.
It's expected to be delivered to Hebron in Licking County.
Some of the loads will weigh about 900,000 pounds and will be 19 feet wide, 24 feet high and 270 feet long.
While there are no official closures or detours planned, slow-rolling roadblocks will be necessary during the transit and drivers should prepare for long delays along the route. Each oversized/overweight load will take eight to 15 days to reach its destination.
Each load will be escorted by several Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers.
“For months, we have been working in coordination with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and local stakeholders along the route to ensure each move goes as smoothly as possible with minimal impacts to those who live and work in the communities along the route,” said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. “We will work to provide as much notice as possible so that drivers can plan ahead and use alternate routes.”
The schedule of each load will be checked against local events, such as festivals and fairs, to minimize impacts, according to ODOT.
The route the loads will follow includes:
- From the dock site east of Manchester, it will travel east on U.S. 52 to West Portsmouth.
- At West Portsmouth, cross over into the U.S. 52 westbound lanes just before the junction of the SR 239 on ramp to U.S. 52 westbound.
- Travel north on the SR 239 southbound ramp to SR 73/SR 104
- Travel south in the northbound lanes of SR 73/SR 104 to U.S. 52
- Travel east on U.S. 52 in the westbound lanes to U.S. 23 in Portsmouth
- Travel north on U.S. 23 southbound from U.S. 52 westbound
- Travel north on U.S. 23 in the northbound lanes to the intersection with Kinneys Lane and Argonne Road
- Cross over into the northbound lanes and travel north on U.S. 23 to the Village of Piketon
- In the Village of Piketon cross over into the southbound lanes of U.S. 23 at Market Street to maneuver around the traffic signals then cross back over into the northbound lanes of U.S. 23
- Travel north on U.S. 23 to Chillicothe
- Take U.S. 35 west to SR 104 north
- Take 104 north to SR 762 near Commercial Point
- Travel east on SR 762 to Rickenbacker Parkway
- Travel north on Rickenbacker Parkway North to Alum Creek Drive
- Travel north on Alum Creek Drive to Rohr Road
- Travel east on Rohr Road to Commerce Center Drive
- Travel north on Commerce Center Drive to Green Pointe Drive South
- Travel east on Green Point Drive South to Saltzgaber Road
- Travel south on Saltzgaber Road to SR 317
- Travel north in the Southbound Lanes on SR 317 past Groveport to Bixby Road east
- Travel east on Bixby Road to U.S. 33
- Travel east in the westbound lanes of U.S. 33 to the Gender Road southbound to U.S. 33 westbound ramp in Canal Winchester
- Travel the wrong way on the Gender Road southbound to U.S. 33 westbound ramp
- Take SR 674/Gender Road north to Brice Road
- Take Brice Road north to the intersection with Tussing Road/SR 204 in Columbus
- Travel east on Tussing Road/SR 204 east to SR 310
- Travel north on SR 310 to U.S. 40 in Etna
LOADS TRAVELING TO HEBRON:
- Travel east on U.S. 40 to SR 79 in Hebron
- Travel the wrong way on the SR 79 southbound off ramp to U.S. 40
- Travel north in the southbound lanes on SR 79 to local roads
LOADS TRAVELING TO NEW ALBANY:
- Travel west on U.S. 40 to Etna Parkway
- Travel north on Etna Parkway to SR 16
- Travel east on SR 16 to SR 310
- Travel north on SR 310 to SR 161
- Travel west on SR 161 to local roads
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