The second of two turbines that docked in B.C. in December is set to endure its own overnight excursion across the north this week.
Roughly two weeks after the first was delivered, the large piece of equipment is Site C bound, expected to cause some delays and will include another entourage for a very early morning trip through Prince George.
From tomorrow (Jan. 27) to Jan. 31, oversized cargo trucks and a fleet of pilot vehicles will be transporting the turbine from Prince Rupert to Chetwynd on Highways 16, 97 and 29 in overnight intervals to lessen any potential impact on traffic.
The schedule for the second go-round is as follows:
- Jan. 27 = 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Prince Rupert to Terrace
- Jan. 28 = 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Terrace to Topley
- Jan. 29 = Midnight to 5 a.m., Topley to Prince George
- Jan. 30 = Midnight to 5 a.m., Prince George to Bear Lake
- Jan. 31 = 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Bear Lake to Jackfish Lake Road north of Chetwynd
The first 17-foot-by-26-foot turbine grabbed the attention of many local residents and industry workers, some staying up late to capture the event on video.
The turbines were made in Brazil then shipped in October by cargo ship and docked at the Port of Prince Rupert on Dec. 2.
The runners are the heart of a turbine where water power is changed into rotational force, driving the generator that produces hydroelectricity.
More shipments are expected to arrive in Prince Rupert sometime in spring 2021 and again in summer 2022. Work on turbine installation is expected to peak in 2022.
Site C is slated for completion by 2024 with a currently estimated price tag of $12.5 billion.
Should you encounter the fleet of vehicles hauling the turbine, you’re asked to obey all posted speed limits and traffic personnel.
Routes will also be dependent on weather and road conditions through local communities, B.C.'s Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry explains.
For more information and updates on road conditions, you’re encouraged to visit Drive BC’s website.
- with a file from The Canadian Press
