Super-sized Loads to Travel from Knoxville to Hawkins County

First of eight trips will begin Monday, Nov. 1

 

October 29, 2010

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A super-sized transporter carrying massive power generating equipment to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s new John Sevier natural gas power plant in Hawkins County, Tenn., will be leaving from Knoxville Monday, Nov.1, on the first of eight separate trips to the site near Rogersville.

The transport operations are being scheduled over the next 90 days, with breaks of eight to 10 days between trips. The transport will run only between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., Sundays through Thursdays, to reduce the impact on local traffic.

Barnhart Crane and Rigging Company will use its specially designed heavy lift trailer to haul the equipment at an average speed of 5 - 8 mph. Each move could take up to two nights to complete the 76-mile trip.

Weather permitting, the first transport will leave around 9 p.m. EDT on Monday,

Nov. 1, from Burkhart Enterprise’s river terminal in the Forks of the River industrial park. The transport will travel a pre-determined route to the John Sevier construction site, escorted by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Equipment being moved:

• Three combustion turbines, similar to jet engines. Each is 13 feet wide, 13 feet tall and 21 feet long, and weighs about 377,000 pounds.

• Three electricity generators. Each is about 15 feet wide, 14 feet tall and 30 feet long, and weighs approximately 520,000 pounds.

• One steam turbine that is 12.7 feet wide, 15.6 feet tall and 23 feet long, and weighs approximately 500,000 pounds.

• One steam generator that is 17 feet wide, 18 feet tall and 38.5 feet long, and weighs approximately 750,000 pounds.
  

The schedule route:

• The heavy haul transport will travel along Governor John Sevier Highway and Strawberry Plains Pike and then onto U.S. Highway 11E in east Knox County and continuing through Jefferson County and Jefferson City. Once in Morristown, the transport will take State Highway 160 to U.S. Highway 25E, and then getting back on U.S. Highway 11E to Bulls Gap. The transport will then travel along State Highway 66 to Old State Highway 70 in Hawkins County to the plant site.

Motorists traveling these routes may experience delays and should use caution.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.

Media Contact

Scott Brooks, Knoxville, (865) 632-8031
Media Relations, Knoxville (865) 632-6000

TVA Newsroom