Dominion generator transport

Some have probably already heard about it but anyone traveling through the areas from Knoxville, Morristown, and on up to Cumberland Gap, and/or Lee and Wise Counties at night/early morning over the next couple of weeks should be aware of the moving of the massive generator for the Dominion Power Plant in St. Paul. The move started (in Knoxville) this morning, this will be the only time it will be moved during the day, and will take a couple or so weeks (starting at 10 each night) to move going from Knoxville, up to the Virginia line (in Lee County) along 58 into Wise County, and up to St. Paul. It will probably look like a parade coming through with the spectators and then the transport vehicles, VDOT (once in Va), State police, contractors, tree companies, and power companies that will accompany it. Should be most interesting coming through Jonesville and Pennington, especially in Jonesville when they have to raise it up and get it over the hill in the middle of town.


WBIR article:
WBIR.com | Knoxville, TN | Giant generator snarls traffic, draws spectators in East Tennessee


To be transported in on a 56 axle rig with four tractors (two to pull and two to push), weight total of everything about 640 tons.

Knox News Sentinel article
1,000-foot-long convoy starts journey today Knoxville News Sentinel

Pictures of the rig...
Slow going: Massive generator prepares for trip to Virginia : Knoxville Photo Galleries : Knoxville News Sentinel: Local Knoxville, Tennessee News Delivered Throughout the Day.

And that leaves me wondering how they are going to get it out of Coeburn. Will it be too big to go under the overpass? And I'm sure that there will be plenty of gawkers and rubberneckers just trying to get a peek at the massive piece of equipment.

All the overpasses, overhead lines, street lights, etc. were mapped out in advanced (one reason why it can't go up US23 - can't fit through RR overpasses in Duffield).

There will be some creative routing involved.

I'd say going through Jonesville and Big Stone will be some of the most challenging places. As I mentioned before wiith it being so long, they'll have to raise it up so many feet to allow it to pass over the hill by the courthouse in Jonesville. I'd say it'll be a tight squeeze through some areas there too, along with Pennington and Big Stone. Also to take a different approach to getting back on the 4-lane at Powell Valley. Another interesting thing will be the bridges. Most of them have been reinforced with some additional support, TDOT inspected all theirs and will do the same after it passes.

TDOT had the plans for the first 3 days of transport up on their website, maybe they'll add some additional days. Haven't seen anything from VDOT.

Transportation | TN.gov Newsroom

KTN article: Dates of transport through Lee County and Big Stone; to enter Lee on Thursday and hit BSG by the 29th.
Massive power generator creeping toward new Wise County power plant - Kingsport Times-News Online

http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/re...2010_FINAL.pdf

Alternate Route 58 just east of Coeburn to St. Paul
- Alternate Route 58 from St. Paul to Virginia City


Yep they did some real creative routing, going past the plant to SP then back to Va City. This is probly the same bunch that was in charge of getting this crane to the site. By taking it from Coeburn down 72 through Dungannon across Mew road to Castlewood then back to the site. Instead of just going straight on down 58 another 8 miles to the site.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...78950c1cf5.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...16c8dbcd4b.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...b60a5c181d.jpg

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Originally Posted by TheBeast

Alternate Route 58 just east of Coeburn to St. Paul
- Alternate Route 58 from St. Paul to Virginia City


Yep they did some real creative routing, going past the plant to SP then back to Va City. This is probly the same bunch that was in charge of getting this crane to the site. By taking it from Coeburn down 72 through Dungannon across Mew road to Castlewood then back to the site. Instead of just going straight on down 58 another 8 miles to the site.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...78950c1cf5.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...16c8dbcd4b.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...b60a5c181d.jpg

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i may be missing something here, surely they didnt dump that thing?

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Originally Posted by Rocky

i may be missing something here, surely they didnt dump that thing?

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The date on that the pictures say 7/16/2008 so I am guessing that is not the generator transport.

It says right in the post that those are pics of a crane they were taking to the site.

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Originally Posted by Rocky

i may be missing something here, surely they didnt dump that thing?

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That is the most wheels I've ever seen on the top of anything, Rock.:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheBeast

It says right in the post that those are pics of a crane they were taking to the site.

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when i read this earlier i didnt see anything about a crane, sorry, was wondering why this whole transport was a big deal in the first place. secondly, i ddint look at the date on the pictures.

Barnahart transports a lot of things like this and from cell towers to nuclear reactors...as elp6n said they've mapped and planned things out well beforehand, maybe its an easier entry, don't know. Overall route looks like the best option easily. Now it should mainly fall on those ahead of it getting things prepared.

Days 4-6 of travel through TN and including 6th day of travel into Lee County...
Oversized Generator Transport Route, Days 4-6 | TN.gov Newsroom

I want to see the bridge jumping device.

Just an update, the generator is expected to move through Pennington tonight, starting at about 8 p.m. (been moved up earlier as its moved through Lee than the previous 10 p.m. starts) and ending around 5 a.m. Right now its parked up just outside of Pennington awaiting the move tonight. If I understood things correctly, they're expected to park up somewhere near the Big Hill turnoff (Dryden side) just outside of Dryden in the morning, the Monday night continue on toward Big Stone and park up just outside of BSG Tuesday morning before finally coming through Big Stone Tuesday night...if all goes as planned that is. Believe they're going to use that bridge jumping device tonight when the go over the bridge across from Save-a-lot just outside of Pennington and then again when they get to the bridge as you go in to BSG. I read that the road will be closed for instillation of the device most of the day on Monday and through Wednesday until they can remove it with traffic to be detoured around...again if everything goes as the current plan. Note parking along some of these streets won't be allowed during and close to the times of the moves either. Wed. night I think the move up Powell Mountain on 23 is expected. Traffic going northbound will be moved over to a lane on the southbound side during that time. Crossovers for traffic and for the generator's move onto the four-lane have been added. Looks like it will parked up somewhere near the old Wal-mart site and intersection off 23 for the 4th holiday weekend before the final moves on to Coeburn and St. Paul.

I was just doing some reading and found out this big momma jomma came from Japan. Talk about one helluva trip.

FYI due to a delay the generator will not be coming through BSG tonight (Tuesday night).

But if anyone wants to come to BSG anyhow there's a concert in Miner's Park at 8:00 pm tonight: The Breezy Holler Band featuring Buddy Delp, Sam Broach and more. A can of food for the food bank is requested.

Yeah, weather was a reason cited for not moving last night. It actually didn't make it up to its intended destination from the other night up to Dryden due to some trouble they had even before trying to get through Pennington with that little bridge in Cane Creek. Sitting just above the Patio right now and I hear may start an hour earlier moving tonight up toward BSG before moving through the town Wednesday night...so everything moves up a day.

on a related topic:

The coalfield said it would be parked close to the first Norton exit. I would have assumed that was the one at the High School. then I kept reading and read it would then stop at he clover leaf 23/58 exit. So I will have to back up and assume that what htey are calling the First Norton Exit is the one at the top of the Valley Mountain.
which exit is the first Big Stone exit, the walmart exit?
now my question, why don't we have our exit's more clearly marked? if we are expected to grow shouldn't we have at least some basic road sign's?

About four o'clock today they were already pretty far along with preparing the bridge near KFC so I assumed they were closer. That would mean that the road toward Pennington will be closed this evening and all day tomorrow?

YouTube - TDOTnews's Channel


I hope theres no weak spots in the Norton bridges.

Wow! I saw those beams today. They make railroad cross-ties look like toothpicks.

I've been wondering for awhile now about the bridge on 23 between BSG and Norton. That thing use to worry me in a loaded truck if there was another one or two running with me, it really did. I hope no one gets hurt and everything works the way they plan.

If you're coming up the other side of the mountain when this thing is coming back down it toward Norton, or any other steeper/long downhill grades along the rest of they way, I'd keep a good watch out. I don't know if they'll block traffic off at some point on that side too, or if it will keep running, but just note that there's a 640 ton rig pushing down that mountain. From what I understand they had quite an ordeal coming down Clinch Mountain on 25 in TN, as it pushed/dragged the trucks down it with everything locked up. Even just coming down the grades like the one from the top of courthouse hill in Jonesville you can really see it, and as soon as it shifts, the lead guy is already on the brakes. They'll probably be a little slower coming over the mountains this time but even still, probably will be hard to hold back.


The Coalfield Progress has this as the current schedule for the transport...

Start times all at 8 p.m.
June 29...move from Lee County (just outside of Pennington) to just inside the Wise County line near BSG.

Wednesday, June 30- Move through Big Stone, up 58 along Wood Avenue, First and Second avenues, Fourth Avenue East, and Powell Valley Road. Traffic to be detoured through some of those areas (signs already up). Then it goes up the southbound off-ramp at 23 near PV, then cross over to the northbound side and park up in the acceleration lanes.

Thursday, July 1- The move up and over the mountain on 23. Traffic to run both ways on the southbound side during the trip up it. To stop near the 23 and 58 intersection and stay over the holiday weekend.

Monday, July 5- Goes from the Norton area to near Pyramid Road just past Coeburn.

Tuesday, July 6- From the Coeburn area to near Bull Hill Road

Wednesday, July 7- On to the power plant

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Originally Posted by Gotch

Wow! I saw those beams today. They make railroad cross-ties look like toothpicks.

I've been wondering for awhile now about the bridge on 23 between BSG and Norton. That thing use to worry me in a loaded truck if there was another one or two running with me, it really did. I hope no one gets hurt and everything works the way they plan.

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Back in the day- if we had 20 extra bucks- more than eats and tickets, a friend and I would take off to Riverfront and the ball game. We used to get caught in the traffic in his MG Midget, once spent an hour between a Greyhound and a tractor, had the top down- I stood most of the time so they didn't forget we were in there . The Ohio river bridge would vibrate when the traffic inched ahead, used to be quite a rush. I always wondered just how much the really large bridges were built to hold. I'd bet they weren't built for bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Are people actually tailgating and stuff to see this thing?

Are you going to start on this one too?

Depends if you're going to follow me in it too.


Just asking and I was leaving it, seen a FB comment on it then posted. Since then there's been quite a few updates about how they can't believe they were actually doing that and some pics. So I got my answer, wow is all I'll say. There.

Well, we could've done without it considering how regressed you've been lately. And I'm not intentionally following you in since I had already posted in this thread. But I just wanted to see if you were going to bring another good one down. It's on the brink I see.

I don't think its unusual for anyone to park on the side of the road and watch it. I was talking to one woman the other day and they went to go watch it for a bit and ended up getting caught behind it for a bit until they found another route to get home, she showed me a video and I have to say when it gets up here in Norton I am for sure going to go see it.

One forum member (Biggin) stood outside on the streets of Big Stone Gap for over four hours to see this thing. He's to be excused though, he lives in East Stone and we all know how those people are.

well, am I going to be the frist to say it? so be it.

after going by it on my way to work this morning I just wasn't all that impressed. then seeing it in the daytime, well, it still doesn't live up to the build up that it has gotten. maybe that is just me, and I'm not being negative or anything, but I just didn't get that feeling of of Aaahhhhh. Maybe if I actually seen it moving down the highway it would be different but I guess that is just me.

i dont understand the thrill of looking at a piece of equipment go down the road.

I really never could grasp what was so fascinating about a generator anyway. But I seen it yesterday too on the side of the road in Norton, that's it? It looked like some fair equipment being moved, you can only be impressed so much by a generator, but that was a let down for me who thought it was stupid to begin with.

Where is it parked now?

I've just been interested in the ways of getting it through this area. Pictures have been posted, the measurements have been posted, I mean its no mountain of course, but its not changed...just a big piece of equipment. People are fascinated by things like that, there's even a show called Megamovers (which this move might be on) that documents things like this. Its something that just doesn't come through this area and is quite a challenge to bring in, that's the interesting parts. People are overreacting to it just a bit though, especially when they try to stop in the middle of the freaking road to see it or run across it in front of others...or when you run up the road acting like a redneck about it...although obviously we know most of that is just to get attention, nothing new there. But I kind of like think of like the quote in the Coalfield from the student at UVA-Wise that was from northern Va, in that people around here like to take something like this and turn it in to a party....haha. Nothing wrong with being interested in it or not.

Now if you want someone overreacting...
YouTube - Yosemitebear Mountain Giant Double Rainbow 1-8-10

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Originally Posted by Sportsman*

Where is it parked now?

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down past Magic Mart / Ingles next to the Hawthorne turn