This morning several agencies worked to assist an oversized load heading through western Kentucky as it maneuvered around a work zone near Calvert City.
The superload - a large boiler weighing in at over 400,000 pounds on a 24-feet wide trailer - was heading eastbound on I-24 when the hauler realized there would be a problem crossing the I-24 Tennessee River Bridge connecting Calvert City with Grand Rivers. According to a release from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the truck could fit through the work zone, but road work to replace joints on the bridge created a problem for the trailer's tires.
After consulting with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineers, Kentucky State Police, and KSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement plans were worked out to close a 13-mile section of I-24 for about an hour and allow the truck to cross over to the westbound lanes where it traveled eastbound for 3 miles.
As it continued on eastward along I-24, the superload and escort caravan backed up traffic. The truck had to slow to a crawl when it crossed bridges or went under an overpass.
The 18-axle truck exited off I-24 at Cadiz to take US 68 East around Hopkinsville and on toward Bowling Green. According to Diamond Heavy Haul, Inc., from Bowling Green the superload was heading north on I-65 to Elizabethtown where it planned to head east on the Bluegrass Parkway, then turn north on US 127 to Frankfort. From there, it plans to follow I-64 East to I-75 North to head on to the final destination in Ohio.
