Motorists heading over the Moonbi Range on Friday, 2 October will face a temporary closure of the New England Highway, as a 402-tonne load carrying the biggest transformer yet for New England Solar makes its way to the site east of Uralla.
Transport for NSW said the closure is expected to happen in two parts.
The northbound carriageway over the range will be closed from 6am for up to 90 minutes.
Traffic will then be cleared through the area before a full closure is put in place around 8am, with both northbound and southbound lanes closed for up to 30 minutes.
The timing may change because of weather, traffic, and other factors, and motorists are being told to follow Live Traffic NSW for the latest advice.
The combination carrying the transformer is made up of at least three prime movers. It is 72 metres long, 4.4 metres wide, and weighs 402 tonnes.
Transport for NSW said that because of its size and scale, the highway must be closed so the load can cross the Moonbi Range safely.
Drivers are advised to plan their journey, allow extra travel time, and follow directions from NSW Police and pilot vehicles.
Once over the range, the load will head for Uralla.
The transformer itself weighs 244 tonnes and is 11 metres long and 4.4 metres high. It is the largest supplied so far for the New England Solar project and will provide a critical link between New England Stage 2 (NE2) and the national electricity grid.
The convoy left Port Adelaide last Thursday on an overland journey of about 2,165 kilometres.
Moving a load of this size needs a specialised heavy haulage set-up. The transformer is being carried on an 18-axle modular platform trailer, with several prime movers at the front and a block truck helping from the rear.
It is expected to arrive in Uralla between mid-morning and early afternoon, if there are no changes to traffic conditions on the way, before travelling on to the project substation.
To mark the occasion, ACEN Australia and its project partner EPEC Group will host a community information stand at Pioneer Park in Bridge Street, Uralla, from 9.30am and for the length of the delivery.
Representatives from both companies will be on hand to answer questions about the transformer, its delivery, and the New England Solar project in general.
Locals are encouraged to come down, say hello to the team, and see the technology of the project taking shape just up the road.
Motorists can follow the highway closure in the Live Traffic NSW app by searching for “Moonbi Lookout”, selecting the incident pin, and clicking “Follow”, or online at https://www.livetraffic.com/incident-details/289687
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