Drivers traveling through the Two Hills, St. Paul and Ashmont areas on Wednesday should expect delays due to an unbelievably big piece of equipment travelling from the capital region to Fort McMurray.
The convoy, consisting of a 352-wheel trailer, will be hauling a load weighing 490,000 kilograms, measuring 8.7 meters wide, 10.2 meters high, and 47 meters long, occupying the full width of the highway, including shoulders.
Alberta’s Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors says the convoy will travel at a maximum speed of 60 km/h. Four pilot vehicles will escort the load, managing lane closures, intersections, and traffic flow. In some sections, a police escort will also be present to ensure safety and facilitate movement.
Drivers encountering the convoy will experience delays and are urged to remain patient. The Ministry is advising motorists to follow the instructions of pilot vehicles and flag people guiding the convoy.
The convoy departs Edmonton early Tuesday morning and follows the following route.
Tuesday, December 10, it will head east on Highway 41, north on Highway 36, and then east on Highway 45 to overnight at the Two Hills scale. On Wednesday, it will proceed east on Highway 45, before turning north on Highway 36, east on Highway 29, north again on Highway 36, west on Highway 28, before turning north on Highway 63, where it will overnight at Boyle. The convoy will continue Thursday heading north on Highway 63, then east on Highway 55 through Grassland, continuing north toward Fort McMurray.
Motorists traveling along these routes should plan accordingly and anticipate slower travel times as the convoy progresses.
