By James T. Hammond
jhammond@scbiznews.com
Published Sept. 18, 2009

Imagine seeing a Boeing 747 taxiing down a Greenville street. That gives some idea of the scale of a “superload” that will be transported across South Carolina during the next 30 days.

A 747 is 250 feet long and weighs 473,000 pounds. The superload — any load weighing more than 130,000 pounds, as defined by the S.C. Department of Transportation — and its transport rig will be 300 feet long and weigh 1.89 million pounds. It’s so heavy the S.C. DOT had to issue a special permit for it.

The rig will comprise two flatbed platforms with a pushing truck and a pulling truck. The cargo being carried: a steam-driven power generator arriving from Japan.

The generator, made by the Toshiba Co. of Japan, belongs to Duke Energy and is bound for its new coal-fired electricity generating unit west of Boiling Springs, N.C., about 20 miles north of Gaffney.

The Cliffside Steam Station is located on the Rutherford-Cleveland County line in North Carolina, on the Broad River.

Mammoet Logistics is in charge of moving the large steam generator, which will creep across the state at speeds ranging from five to 20 miles per hour. The trek will take the rig through some sleepy rural communities.

“We’ve been told that a few towns are going to hold a festival and have a parade when it arrives because it’s the biggest thing that has happened there,” said Pete Poore, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

Poore said the load is likely the largest ever transported over S.C. highways.

“In my experience, there’s never been anything this size,” Poore said.

The superload might impact local traffic in Jasper, Hampton, Allendale, Barnwell, Aiken, Edgefield, Saluda, Greenwood, Laurens, Greenville, Spartanburg and Cherokee counties.

The moving contractor has contacted emergency medical services, school districts, law enforcement agencies and others who might be directly affected by the impact on traffic flow, the DOT said.

The load will move from the Purrysburg landing, near Hardeeville on the Savannah River, to the North Carolina state line. Portions of the move will occur at night to avoid traffic, the DOT said.

The transport will go through the following areas:

Jasper County

• Tillman
• Tarboro
• Pineland

Hampton County

• Furman
• Estill

Allendale County

• Allendale
• Seigling
• Ulmer

Barnwell County

• Barnwell
• Elko
• Williston

Aiken County

• White Pond
• Windsor
• Montmorenci
• Aiken

Edgefield County

• Johnston

Saluda County

• Saluda

Greenwood County

• Greenwood
• Hodges
• Ware Shoals

Laurens County

• Brewerton
• Princeton

Greenville County

• Ware Place
• Greenville
• Travelers Rest
• Gowansville

Spartanburg County

• Campobello
• Fingerville
• Chesnee