The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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September 24, 2008

Drilling rig coming through Enid blocks traffic

By Kasey Fowler Staff Writer

Traffic was blocked Wednesday evening as large load moved around Enid.

A gas drilling rig/plant from Circle V had to be diverted around construction in Enid, said Garfield County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Shon Jack-son.

“We are de-touring them around U.S. 412 and Enid be-cause of the construction,” he said.

The load left Tulsa Saturday and is headed for the western slopes of Colorado. The trip will take approximately one month.

The load was moving around Enid earlier Wednesday until the semi hauling it broke down.

“We had it going this morning and the semi pulling the load broke down,” Jackson said. “We had to wait for them to send another semi.”

The equipment alone weighs more than 335 tons, he said. It stretches more than 40 feet wide and is about four trailer lengths long.

“The equipment is blocking two lanes of traffic as it moves” Jackson said. “We are having to block traffic for safety reasons.”

The load is large, and authorities are taking extra safety precautions.

“It took an hour to round the corner,” Jackson said. “It has rear steering to negotiate turns.

The load stopped for the night in North Enid.

“They had to stop at dark,” Jackson said.

Travel will resume at 8:30 a.m. today.

“Assuming no difficulties, it will take several hours ... to move it the rest of the way around Enid,” Jackson said.

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