Abnormal load expected to cause Barrow delays
Last updated at 15:54, Thursday, 10 January 2013
MOTORISTS in Cumbria are being warned that the move of an abnormal load could affect their travel plans this weekend.
At 10am on Saturday, officers from Cumbria Constabulary's Roads Policing Unit will be escorting a transformer unit from the Barrow docks to the M6. It is bound for a substation in Beattock, Scotland.
The abnormal load will leave the docks and travel onto North Road, Ironworks Road, left onto Phoenix Road, then left onto the A590 and to the M6, then continue travelling north. Police say some traffic disruption is likely.
The load is expected to be 4.7metres wide and 57metres long and weigh 218 tonnes, so there might be parts of the route where it moves slowly to negotiate junctions and narrow areas. Motorists are asked to be patient and consider changing their travel plans, or allow extra time for their journeys to avoid any potential delays.
The loads will be escorted by police officers and high visibility abnormal load vehicles to keep the public safe.
Police say further load moves are planned over the coming weeks and motorists will be kept informed.
First published at 09:00, Thursday, 10 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
I always wonder why these abnormal loads arent forced to travel overnight when the disruption to other motorists will be at an absolute minimum. As it is the A590 will be gridlocked for long periods. I regularly travel to Barrow at this time on a Saturday morning for Barrow AFC home games and know the level of traffic coming out of Barrow is often comparable to that of a midweek rush hour evening.
Whoever organised this and the Police for allowing it should be ashamed of themselves.View all 7 comments on this article
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Yes the measurements were correct, it was Metres and not feet. The reason why it not always safe to travel at night, is safety reasons. Less light means less visibility for the drivers of the trucks and other motorists. No risks should be taken by motorists as the Police were escorting the load and stopped at any given opportunity to let the tail backs pass. So anyone thinking about overtaking it shouldn't have a driving licence in the first place, as they are clearly a danger to other road users.
Posted by levelheaded on 12 January 2013 at 17:30