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MONTICELLO, San Juan County — A transformer weighing nearly 1 million pounds will arrive at the Monticello fairgrounds Monday after a week of traveling by truck at speeds of 3-10 mph through New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
The transformer — measuring 25 feet wide and 415 feet long on its trailer — made its way from China to Houston by boat, from Houston to New Mexico by train, and is finishing its journey by slow-moving truck. In total, the load weighs 1.8 million pounds, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
The Pacific Corp, Rocky Mountain Power-owned piece of equipment started its highway trek Monday, Oct. 26 and will arrive on Highway 191 at Monticello's fairgrounds around noon, the project manager said. In two weeks, the second, smaller piece of equipment will arrive and the pieces will be transported to the Monticello substation for installation in the wind generator farm.
Law enforcement officials, including Utah Highway Patrol, escorted the transformer along the way and between 15 and 20 vehicles were involved in its transportation. The load was one of the heaviest ever transported on Arizona state highways, according to ADOT.
