Cooling, refueling delays transport of power plant parts

After leaving the Port Authority of Guam three hours behind schedule Saturday, the vehicle carrying parts for the Ukudu Power Plant made several stops for cooling and refueling, further delaying the trip up Marine Corps Drive.

The transport was supposed to leave the port at 2 p.m. Saturday, travel overnight in light traffic conditions and arrive at its destination across from Micronesia Mall at 6 a.m. Sunday.

Instead, the heavy-haul load made its way up Guam's main thoroughfare as residents were headed to breakfast, church and shopping on Sunday morning.

The move, which took more than 18 hours, was the first of several trips needed to move the massive parts from Piti to Dededo. Originally, planners estimated the self-propelled trailer would travel at about 1 mph.

"This is the first heavy-haul transport for the Ukudu project, and the experts took extra time to ensure all the equipment and personnel were absolutely secure for the 12-mile trek," project spokesperson Tyler Matanane said in a news release Sunday. "The extra time equated to extra care and precautions."

Once the transport was underway, the trailer required longer stops than originally expected for cooling and refueling, according to William Best, vice president/general manager of Smithbridge Guam.

"It's a massive undertaking when you place 167 tons of cargo on 22 axles of diesel-powered machinery, and you have to maneuver that around obstacles while keeping traffic flowing and everyone safe," Best said Sunday morning. "We had some mechanical issues. The (trailer) required longer cooling periods and we needed to refuel a couple of times throughout the night and early morning, but we are determined to complete this transport today."

Contractors said the first move involved the heaviest cargo, and Guam's roads, and bridges, culverts were crossed safely.

The components will be used for the new 198-megawatt combined cycle power plant in Dededo.

Live tracking of transports, as well as alternate routes, are available at poweronthemove.org.