More Heavy Loads/More Travel Impacts

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.