Day 3: Blazing the Oregon trail

This morning, departure from Marsing was delayed an hour due to fog, but the melter assembly caravan quickly made up time and traveled 205 miles today! Keep in mind that it can travel no more than 45 miles per hour.

At around noon, the caravan crossed the state line into Oregon and continued its journey with a state-required escort from the Oregon Department of Transportation. In the Ontario area, the transport performed the first of three “rolling slow downs” to avoid overhead obstructions.

Rolling slow downs involve holding all lanes of traffic within three miles of the obstruction to a very low speed. This allows the trailer of the transporter to be lowered so that it can pass under the obstruction. Passing through Le Grande required two additional rolling slow downs.

At approximately 4:00 p.m., the melter assembly traveled over the summit of the Blue Mountains (4,193 feet) and to the top of Cabbage Hill. Driving down the steep and winding hill took just under 40 minutes.

The melter assembly reached Pendleton, Oregon, by evening. It has traveled 675 miles in just three days.

Starting point: Marsing, Idaho
Ending point: Pendleton, Oregon
Miles traveled: 205
Hours traveled: 7.5
Average speed: 26.3 miles per hour
Maximum speed: 43 miles per hour

Cities/towns traveled through:

• Wilder (population: ~1,500)
• Parma (population: ~1,800)
• Huntington (population: ~650)
• Baker City (population: ~10,000)
• Le Grande (population: ~12,000)

The melter assembly caravan carefully travels down Cabbage Hill in Oregon. (View larger image.)

The sun begins to set on the transporter carrying the melter assembly; it reached Pendleton, Oregon, by the end of the day. (View larger image.)

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For media inquiries:

Suzanne Heaston, Bechtel National, Inc., Waste Treatment Plant Communications
(509) 371-2329, smheasto@bechtel.com

Carrie Meyer, Department of Energy
(509) 372-0810, Carrie_C_Meyer@rl.gov

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