The first of about two dozen "superloads" rolled into central Ohio Friday from a checkpoint near Lucasville heading to the Intel chip plant site in New Albany and a plastics recycling plant in Hebron.
A truck carrying a 200-foot long, 390,000 pound load rumbled slowly up State Route 104 in Pickaway County just after noon. The truck took several minutes to navigate a tight turn as crews lifted electrical wires over it and about a dozen onlookers watched and recorded the spectacle on their cell phones.
The trucks were escorted by Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Department of Transportation, who directed traffic and lifted electrical wires and street lights out of the way of the massive load.
Howard Draise, of nearby Commercial Point, and his two grandsons watched from the corner at State Route 756. Draise said he was impressed by the sight and is glad to see commerce coming to the state, even if its ultimate destination is on the other side of the Columbus metro area.
"We need the jobs here in Ohio and stuff. So, you know, it's going to be alright. I just worry about the roads and stuff, and if it will do any damage to the roads," Draise said.
This superload will be dwarfed by the 900,000 pound and 270-foot long load set to make its way to the area soon.
ODOT Spokesman Matt Bruning said the trucks are traveling from a port on the Ohio River and are averaging about 50 miles per hour, but had to stop at points to move obstructions blocking the way of the tall load.
Bruning said some of the parts being shipped are still in transit from overseas and the loads could keep coming on the same route for weeks. The first load that arrived Friday stopped at Rickenbacker Airport and will then make its way to Bixby Road.
ODOT announced Friday the second load, which is identical to the first, will not be transported until March 14, and will have to stay at Rickenbacker Airport before continuing to Hebron until March 23, because of St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Columbus.
The full routes established for the superloads are posted on ODOT's website.
