"Big Load" Stops for the Night at Newton

(THIS IS THE "BIG LOAD" MAKING THE TURN THIS MORNING OFF U-S ROUTE 50 ONTO THE DIETERICH/CLAY CITY BLACKTOP)

The "big load" is parked for the night.

The 26-foot-wide, 306-foot-long, 898,000-pound load spread over 26 axles began its journey Thursday in the Fairfield area. Friday morning, it headed east on US 50 to the Dieterich/Clay City blacktop, but was stopped in Dieterich for some time. Metal trackage was used to direct the load around the corner from the blacktop onto Illinois Route 33 at the four-way stop. The load then headed east on Route 33 to Robinson, but is stopped for the night on the west edge of Newton. The "big load" is a component for the Marathon refinery in Robinson.

Affected roadways will be closed periodically for the "big load" to pass by.

(THIS IS A LOOK AT THE "BIG LOAD" ALONG THE DIETERICH/CLAY CITY BLACKTOP)

Trees were being trimmed and power lines moved to accommodate the load through Wayne County early Thursday. Street lights were taken down along Main Street in Dieterich.

There are reports the equipment was manufactured in Europe and after arriving in the United States was brought by barge to the Ohio River where it began its land journey.