The assembly traveled on a specially configured heavy-haul transporter from Ogden, Utah, to the construction site, approximately 25 miles north of Richland, Wash., in just four days. The total trip was nearly 800 miles. The 190-foot-long transporter carrying the assembly used two tractors (one in front to pull and one in back to push), occupied nearly two traffic lanes and could travel no more 45 miles per hour.

Starting point: Pendleton, Oregon
Ending point: Hanford Waste Treatment Plant (north of Richland, Washington)
Miles traveled: 105
Hours traveled: 3.5

After arriving, the melter assembly was uncovered and offloaded from the trailer using the Demag crane. It will be inspected and staged in the LAW Facility, next to the first melter assembly, which was delivered on November 5.

The trailer, transporter and crew will return home this weekend, thereby ending this short but significant chapter in the Vit Plant progress story. By the time they return home, the trailer, transporter and crew will have traveled 3,200 miles in just over three weeks

The LAW Facility is currently 65 percent complete.

A media release announcing the arrival of the LAW melter assembly was issued today.

The melter assembly travels down Stevens Drive in Richland, Wash. (View larger image.)

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The melter assembly travels from Pendleton, Oregon. (View larger image.)

The melter assembly crosses the bridge from Oregon into Washington. (View larger image.)

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The melter assembly arrives just outside the Tri-Cities. (View larger image.)

The melter assembly arrives at the Low-Activity Waste Vitrification Facility on site. (View larger image.)

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The melter assembly is uncovered at the Low-Activity Waste Vitrification Facility. (View larger image.)

The melter assembly was offloaded using the red Demag crane. (View larger image.)

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The transport performed three rolling slow downs during its journey today, allowing it to clear overhead obstructions. Rolling slow downs involve holding all lanes of traffic within three miles of the obstruction to a very low speed. The trailer of the transporter is then lowered so that it can pass under the obstruction. One rolling slow down was performed near Ontario, Oregon, and two were performed near Le Grande, Oregon. Each rolling slow down took approximately four minutes to complete.

The transporter reached the top of Cabbage Hill at 1:15 p.m., and reached the bottom 38 minutes later.

The caravan arrived in Pendleton, Oregon, this evening and is scheduled to arrive at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant construction site tomorrow.

Starting point: Marsing, Idaho
Ending point: Pendleton, Oregon
Miles traveled: 200
Hours traveled: 7.25
Average speed: 27.8 miles per hour
Maximum speed: 44 miles per hour

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

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Weather, including snow, ice, rain, and fog, is always a concern when traveling at this time of year and with loads of this size. Fog, in particular, impairs visibility not only for the drivers in the caravan but for all drivers. This creates a hazard because other drivers may approach the transporter too quickly and without knowing it. When foggy conditions do exist, the caravan may be required to delay departure or pull off the road until the fog lifts.

Starting point: Moreland, Idaho
Ending point: Marsing, Idaho
Miles traveled: 300
Hours traveled: 9.25
Average speed: 32.1 miles per hour
Maximum speed: 44 miles per hour

The melter assembly makes a splash traveling down a hill in Idaho. (View larger image.)

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Interesting fact: A nine-person crews travels with the melter assembly; it consists of a driver for the truck in front (the pull truck), a driver for the truck in back (the push truck), a driver for the support truck, a mechanic, a back-up driver who also assists in steering the transporter around corners and four escorts. The escorts can also act as back-up drivers.

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Starting point: Ogden, Utah
Ending point: Moreland, Idaho
Miles traveled: 170
Hours traveled: 6.75
Average speed: 25 miles per hour
Maximum speed: 43 miles per hour

Dusk sets on the second melter assembly as it travels through Idaho. (View larger image.)

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A media release announcing the departure of the second melter assembly was issued this afternoon.

Check back for updates!

The second melter assembly began its journey to the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant today. (View larger image.)

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Olsen presented Lampson International's subcontracted heavy-haul company, Morgan Machinery, with a certificate of appreciation for delivering the LAW melter assembly in a safe and timely manner.

The caravan then continued to the construction site, arriving at approximately 10:30 a.m. After fulfilling safety and security requirements and procedures, it proceeded on site and arrived at the LAW Facility.

The transporter will return to Ogden, Utah, this weekend to pick up the second melter.

A media release was issued today.

After just five days of travel, the melter assembly arrives at the construction site. (View larger image.)

The melter assembly caravan heads down Stevens Drive to the construction site. (View larger image.)

WTP Project Director Frank Russo talks to local television reporters at the media event. (View larger image.)

Many people came together and worked extremely hard to reach this point; pictured here are just a few of them, including the Lampson International and Morgan Machinery transport team, as well as WTP employees Dick McGrew, responsible engineer; Debbie Faith, expeditor; Reed Figley, responsible engineer; and Maggie Donnelson, buyer. (View larger image.)

To navigate around a tight corner at the site, the transport team removes pins from the trailer. (View larger image.)

The melter assembly transporter turns a corner near the warehouse at the construction site. (View larger image.)

The melter assembly reached the Low-Activity Waste Vitrification Facility before noon today. (View larger image.)

Traveling at an average of 24 miles per hour and a maximum speed of 43 miles per hour, the spectacle continued down the bypass and onto Stevens Drive. At approximately 7:50 p.m., the entire caravan came to rest in a large parking area across the street from the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) offices in north Richland.

The melter assembly will proceed to the WTP construction site Friday morning, where it will be offloaded and rolled into the Low-Activity Waste Vitrification Facility. Continue to check back for more updates and photos!

Starting point: Pendleton, Oregon
Ending point: Richland, Washington
Miles traveled: 80
Hours traveled: 4.75
Average speed: 25 miles per hour
Maximum speed: 43 miles per hour

The melter caravan crossed Van Giesen in Richland after 7:00 p.m. (View larger image.)

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The trailer carrying the melter assembly sits less than nine inches above the ground. (View larger image.)

The melter assembly measures 30 feet long, 21 feet wide and 13 feet tall. (View larger image.)

Interesting facts:

• The transporter uses two tractors: one in front of the trailer and one in back of the trailer; the one in back pushes the trailer and is especially useful when traveling up and down hills
• The trailer carrying the melter has 80 tires: 48 in the back, behind the melter, and 32 in the front; the tractors each have 14 tires
• The entire melter transporter -- tractors and trailer -- uses a total of 108 tires
• 43 chains, each 20 feet long and each weighing 100 pounds -- more than two tons total -- are used to help secure the melter to the trailer
• The trailer carrying the melter sits less than nine inches above the ground; it can be hydraulically lowered to ground level or raised up to four feet in the air
• Lowering the trailer to ground level, to travel under overpasses, takes just 3 to 5 minutes

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Check back later for arrival photos and updates!

The video provided above shows the first of the two Low-Activity Waste (LAW) Vitrification Facility melter assemblies being loaded for delivery at Petersen, Inc., in Ogden, Utah. The assembly departed Utah on Monday, November 1 and is expected to arrive later this week.

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