More Heavy Loads/More Travel Impacts

Monday, December 14, 2015 at 12:00 AM

Travelers should expect delays in northwestern New Mexico December 15th through 23nd due to trucks hauling extremely heavy loads from Thoreau, NM to the San Juan Power Plant located near Waterflow, NM.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) announced today that travelers should expect delays in northwestern New Mexico December 15th through 23nd due to trucks hauling extremely heavy loads to the San Juan Power Plant located near Waterflow, NM. The loads – which are the heaviest to ever be transported on New Mexico roadways – are transformers that will arrive in Thoreau, New Mexico by train and will then be loaded onto the trucks. Each load will be 339 feet long, 18 feet wide and 17 feet tall, weighing 831,000 lbs. with one truck pulling and two trucks pushing each load. Motorists are urged to plan ahead of time to avoid delays. The route for the four loads is as follows:

Tuesday, 12/15/15 - Depart Thoreau, NM and travel north on NM 371 to Navajo Route 9, then U.S. 491 to U.S. 64 into Waterflow, NM. Expected travel time is 8 hours. 
Wednesday, 12/16/15 - Depart Waterflow, NM and travel on U.S. 64 to Farmington Truck Bypass to NM 371 back to Thoreau. Expected travel time is 4 hours. 
Thursday, 12/17/15 - Depart Thoreau, NM and travel north on NM 371 to Navajo Route 9, then U.S. 491 to U.S. 64 into Waterflow, NM. Expected travel time is 8 hours. 
Friday, 12/18/15 - Depart Waterflow, NM and travel on U.S. 64 to Farmington Truck Bypass to NM 371 back to Thoreau. Expected travel time is 4 hours. 
Saturday, 12/19/15 - Depart Thoreau, NM and travel north on NM 371 to Navajo Route 9, then U.S. 491 to U.S. 64 into Waterflow, NM. Expected travel time is 8 hours. 
Sunday, 12/20/15 - Depart Waterflow, NM and travel on U.S. 64 to Farmington Truck Bypass to NM 371 back to Thoreau. Expected travel time is 4 hours.  
Monday, 12/21/15 - Depart Waterflow, NM and travel on U.S. 64 to Farmington Truck Bypass to NM 371 back to Thoreau. Expected travel time is 4 hours. 
Tuesday, 12/22/15 - Depart Thoreau, NM and travel north on NM 371 to Navajo Route 9, then U.S. 491 to U.S. 64 into Waterflow, NM. Expected travel time is 8 hours. 
Wednesday, 12/23/15 - Depart Waterflow, NM and travel on U.S. 64 to Farmington Truck Bypass to NM 371 back to Thoreau. Expected travel time is 4 hours.

NMDOT has been assured that the transportation won’t affect emergency vehicles. The New Mexico State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau will escort the caravan along all NM and U.S. routes. Once the transport is complete, the NMDOT will perform maintenance patrols along the NM and U.S. routes to inspect for any impacts and/or damage to the roadway. If any are discovered, repairs will be made accordingly.

More from Local News

AirCare adds Second Airplane

AirCare 3 is a Pilatus PC-12 Legacy. It joins AirCare 1, a Bell 429 twin engine helicopter, and AirCare 2, a Pilatus PC-12 NGX, all owned by San Juan Regional Medical Center and operated by Air Methods.
San Juan County Celebrates New Extension Office

The San Juan County Extension Service Building project is one of 14 projects funded by $13 million recovered in New Mexico’s 2022 settlements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA contractors, and mining defendants for injuries to natural resources resulting from the August 2015 Gold King Mine blowout.
2024 Election: San Juan County Contested Races

These are the unofficial election results from voting on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 of the contested races in San Juan County, NM.
Local Freight Rail to receive up to $4 Million more for project

The (Four Corners Freight Rail) project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing resilience and improving system and service performance, as the project will provide a viable freight transportation modal alternative to highway trucking, opportunities to simplify the supply chain, and enable new, rail-dependent economic development opportunities thereby imparting benefits to the Navajo Nation and surrounding communities.
Teen Boy Fatally Stabbed, Mother Beaten, Juvenile Suspect Arrested

The victim is a 12-year old boy who died of apparent stab wounds. A second victim, believed to be the suspect’s mother, sustained injuries from a blunt object attack and is being treated at CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital in Durango. The names of the victims are being withheld as the investigation is ongoing. The incident was reported by a motorist who was involved in a single vehicle accident shortly after 7 a.m., believed to have been caused by the suspect as he fled the residence on Snowy Peaks Way. Deputies discovered the scene when they arrived to investigate the accident.
Woman & Bystander Fatally Shot in Farmington

Andrew Wittenberg has been charged with aggravated burglary, larceny of a firearm, two counts of first-degree murder, and tampering with evidence. The investigation is still ongoing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.