LEWISTON, Maine — A giant transformer that’s part of Central Maine Power’s infrastructure upgrade is being moved along a busy highway between Greene and Lewiston.
Lewiston police say the 285-ton transformer was to be moved at a slow pace along Route 202 starting at 6 a.m. Saturday. Police say the transformer is big enough to take up most of the paved highway and recommend that motorists find alternate routes from the north into Lewiston and even leaving the city.
The transformer was delivered to Portland Harbor last Saturday and was being shipped via rail Wednesday to Leeds. From there, it was to be moved to Lewiston this weekend.
The transformer is part of CMP’s $1.4 billion infrastructure upgrade that calls for six new substations and upgrades to 40 existing substations.
Where was this made? In Taiwan like the last one? Wouldn’t you think they could/should build it here in the USA. Of course it would probably cost much more and THAT is what drives all business decisions nowadays even if it would create jobs.
I thought this administration was pushing for improvements to our infrastructure and American companies and American workers would be hired to perform these tasks.
I just read where where a Chinese company’s bid was chosen to replace a bridge and they brought in Chinese and Taiwanese workers to build it.
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it would probably cost much more and THAT is what drives all business decisions nowadays
Right, that’s how it should be. If the Chinese can build something cheaper, we should be buying from them. They’ll buy from us what we can build cheaper. It’s called comparative advantage.
What is the Name of the Transport company moving it? Are they a MAINE company?
Where was the transformer made? China i’ll bet.
That looks like a fun load to move. Wish I was the driver.
LOL wonder if it is even 13′ 6″
Not fun. You must be on the ball the whole time no radio no nothing but the cb or two way talking to the lead and chase vehicles. Driving one of these for a few hours and you feel like your have been on the road for 24 hours straight.
I admit it is exciting and when delivered you feel great but everything between pick up and delivery is mentally and physically taxing.
I like a challenge, sounds fun.
Sounds like more fun than taking a 18 wheeler down Jamaica Blvd in NY (under the L to the bus terminal).
I am curious as how much damage is going to be done to the road that this thing moves on. That has got to stress the pavement, even though it does look a mile long….
It’s only 6 times over the legal weight limit.
Truck weight limits are total weight AND by axle. Thus a heavy like this one will use a multi axle heavy load trailer with many axles thus each tire is putting less weight on the ground it touches then a fully loaded legal weight truck.
This is not a heavy load really. The big loads require two or more puller trucks and one or more pusher trucks.
I believe that this is a 96 tire trailer and the displacement of weight would probably be the same or less then a trailer load of wood.
wishful thinking!
really wouldn’t matter we end up paying for it!
Thanks for that pic, BDN. Now I will know what to watch out for!
Watch out for the gunfire from Lewiston !!