Super Load Creates Traffic Delays as it Moves through Erie
A massive super load caused some traffic delays Thursday as it began a 300-mile trip from the Port of Erie to Lock Haven.
The giant dryer used to make tissue paper is more than 19-feet high and weighs nearly 630,000 pounds.
The driver of the huge load is carefully weaving around traffic signals and arms with crews ready to move overhead wires.
State Police cruisers blocked intersections along the east side of the Bayfront Parkway as the load slowly made its way out of the city toward Harborcreek.
PennDOT said it took nearly a year to plan to route because moving the load is so challenging.
The super load could not travel on interstate highways because some of the bridges did not provide enough clearance.
PennDOT said it took nearly a year to plan the route because moving the load is so challenging.
PennDOT Permits Manager Andy Boland said, "The hardest part of moving a load of this size is the clearance. they can't get under structures. They are too heavy for some structures. Also the signals. We have wires they cannot fit under. So they've been working on this route for a long time to get this load through."
Many people watched the load, amazed at the size, and the teamwork needed to move it.
Bill Price said, "Not an easy job at all. But they know what they are doing, that is for sure."
Joseph Cermak said, "It is quite the operation. Very impressive. I have seen big loads moving around before but nothing like this."
Super Load Route
| County | Road | Distance in Miles |
| Erie County |
|
|
|
| Port of Erie—Port Access Rd | 0.8 |
|
| SR 4034—E Bayfront Parkway Super load will crossover multiple times to maneuver around traffic signal arms | 0.9 |
|
| SR 5 East (E 12th St) | 1.6 |
|
| SR 5 East (Franklin St) | 0.5 |
|
| SR 5 West (Lake Rd) Counterflow movement, traveling east on 5 W | 0.9 |
|
| SR 955 East (Iroquois Ave) | 1.6 |
|
| Walbridge Rd | 0.3 |
|
| SR 20 West (Buffalo Rd) Bypass intersection with Nagle Road via Kmart parking lot | 0.8 |
|
| Nagle Rd | 0.9 |
|
| SR 430 East (Station Rd) | 1.3 |
| County | Road | Distance in Miles |
| Erie County |
|
|
|
| SR 430 East/SR 290 East Counterflow movement on SR 290 East on-ramp then crossover median | 8.2 |
|
| SR 89 South (Beaver Dam Rd) | 6.6 |
|
| SR 89 S/SR 8 S (Waterford Rd) | 2.1 |
|
| SR 8 South (Waterford Rd/Smiley Hill Rd/Main St) | 8.4 |
|
| SR 8 South (Main St, Spring St) | 8.2 |
|
|
|
|
| Crawford County |
|
|
|
| SR 77 West | 8.9 |
|
| SR 408 East | 8.5 |
|
| SR 428 South (Troy Center Rd) | 4.5 |
|
|
|
|
| Venango County |
|
|
|
| SR 27 East (Meadville Rd, Central Ave.)) | 6.5 |
|
| SR 27 West (Central Ave) Counterflow movement, traveling east on 27 West | 0.5 |
|
| SR 27 East (Central Ave, Main St., Titusville Rd) | 4.7 |
|
|
|
|
| Crawford County |
|
|
|
| SR 27 East (State Street) | 0.7 |
|
|
|
|
| Venango County |
|
|
|
| SR 36 South (State St, Tionesta Rd, Col Drake Hwy) | 9.6 |
|
|
|
|
| Forest County |
|
|
|
| SR 62 South | 14.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Venango County | SR 157 East (Fryburg Rd) | 13.6 |
|
|
|
|
| Clarion County | SR 208 East | 5.0 |
|
| SR 36 South (Col Drake Hwy) | 3.0 |
|
| SR 36 South (Col Drake Hwy) | 1.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| County | Road | Distance in Miles |
| Forest County |
|
|
|
| SR 66 North | 27.8 |
|
|
|
|
| County | Road | Distance in Miles |
| Elk County |
|
|
|
| SR 948 South | 15.2 |
|
| SR 948 South (Main St) | 0.5 |
|
| SR 948 South/SR 219 South (Buffalo Pittsburgh Hwy, Boot Jack Rd | 3.9 |
|
| SR 219 South to SR 153 South. Portion of SR 153 is in Elk County and continues into Clearfield County | 7.9 |
|
|
|
|
| Clearfield County |
|
|
|
| SR 153 South | 18.8 |
|
| SR 153 South/Sr 322 East (28th Division Hwy) | 6.4 |
|
| SR 153 South/SR 322 East (Bridge St., Bigler Ave.) | 1.5 |
|
| SR 879 West off-ramp Counterflow movement on the WB off-ramp to SR 879 East | 0.2 |
|
| SR 879 Crossover multiple times to maneuver around traffic signal arms | 1.3 |
|
| I-80 (Exit 120-123) | 3.3 |
|
| SR 970 South | 1.4 |
|
| SR 322 East to Philipsburg Counterflow on westbound off-ramp to Route 322 East at Woodland intersection | 10.4 |
|
|
|
|
| Centre County |
|
|
|
| SR 322 East | 6.9 |
|
| SR 322 West Counterflow movement, traveling east until beyond Dynamic Message Sign | 4.0 |
|
| SR 322 East Crossover median at Blazosky Road | 0.3 |
|
| SR 322 East Exit ramp/N High St/Sr 3042 | 1.4 |
|
| SR 3040 North/SR 220 Alt | 2.8 |
|
| SR 3040 North/SR 220 Alt | 14.0 |
|
|
|
|
| County | Road | Distance in Miles |
| Centre County |
|
|
|
| Ramp off, cross over SR 144, ramp back to SR 3040 North/Sr 220 Alt | 1.2 |
|
| I-80 East (Exit 158—Mile-marker 170.3) | 12.3 |
|
|
|
|
| Clinton County |
|
|
|
| I-80 East (Mile-marker 170.3 –mile-marker 187) | 16.7 |
|
| I-80 Crossover |
|
|
| I-80 West (to Exit 178) | 9.6 |
|
| I-80 West Exit 178 off-ramp | 0.3 |
|
| SR 220 North | 0.5 |
|
| SR 220 Mackeyville exit, cross over at Auction Rd, ramp back up to SR 220 North | 0.5 |
|
| SR 220 North | 1.9 |
|
| SR 220 North Exit 107 | 0.1 |
|
| SR 477 West (Long Run Rd) | 0.3 |
|
| SR 64 North (Nittany Valley Dr/Water St) | 1.9 |
|
| SR 150 North (Eagle Valley Rd) | 0.4 |
|
| SR 2015 (Mill Hall Rd) Counterflow movement, traveling south | 0.3 |
|
| SR 220 South exit 109 off-ramp Counterflow movement on SR 220, traveling north | 2.4 |
|
| SR 220 South exit 111 on-ramp, continue SR 2012 East/SR 120 East Counterflow movement on SR 120, traveling west | 0.4 |
|
| SR 120 East on-ramp (from Walnut Street) Counterflow movement on SR 120, traveling west | 0.3 |
|
| Walnut Street | 0.2 |
|
| Park Street | 0.8 |
|
| First Quality Tissue Entrance |
|
