| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Lou Hatter 540-829-7537 Louis.Hatter@VDOT.Virginia.gov Odile Brookings 540-829-7394 |
CULP-17 March 14, 2006 |
FOURTH OVERNIGHT TANK TRANSPORT SET
Four tanks will leave King George County at
11 p.m. Tuesday, March 14
Pictures of fermenting tanks
CULPEPER – Another transport of four oversized fermenting tanks will travel Central Virginia’s roads overnight on Tuesday, March 14 and Wednesday, March 15. Motorists are advised to expect traffic delays during the transport operation on Routes 3, 29 and 33.
After leaving the staging area in King George County at 11 p.m. Tuesday the convoy will travel west on Route 3 through Fredericksburg to Culpeper, then south on Route 29 to Ruckersville in Greene County. From Ruckersville the tanks will travel west along Route 33, crossing the mountains to Route 649 in Rockingham County. The convoy will then travel Route 649 to Route 340, where it will turn onto Route 340 and continue to the Coors facility.
Motorists who travel the transport route should expect delays as the tanks travel through in the early morning hours Wednesday. When the tanks cross the Blue Ridge Mountains on Route 33 beginning at 8 a.m., Route 33 will be intermittently closed until the tanks clear the mountain crossing. Anyone who uses Route 33 between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. should consider an alternate route on Wednesday.
Background information on transport operation
Lockwood Brothers, Inc. is moving 40 stainless steel fermenting tanks from King George County to the Coors Brewing Co. facility in Elkton, a distance of approximately 100 miles. The size of the tanks, each of which is approximately 70 feet long, 21 feet in diameter and 70,000 pounds, requires that extraordinary measures be taken to ensure the safety of those in the convoy as well as others traveling the convoy route. The tanks are part of Coors’ project to transform the Elkton facility from a packaging and distribution center into the company’s East Coast brewery.
The operation has been planned to avoid as much as possible disruptions to traffic along the transport route. The tanks will be moved in convoys that will travel through Central Virginia during the early morning hours each Sunday and Wednesday throughout March and early April. Once under way, the transport operation will be flexible dependent upon weather conditions.
The transport schedule will remain the same throughout the operation with the exception of one change between the Wednesday and Sunday runs. On Wednesdays the convoy will stop on the Route 33 bypass at Stanardsville until 8 a.m. to allow Greene County’s school buses to complete their routes. Route 33 will be closed beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays to allow the convoy to cross the mountain. On Sundays the convoy will stop at Stanardsville until daylight; Route 33 will be closed and the convoy will begin the crossing shortly after dawn.
Portable message boards on the two-lane section of Route 3 east of Culpeper, on Route 33 west of Stanardsville and on Route 33 east of Elkton will advise motorists of traffic delays during the transports. The signs will be updated throughout the operation with information about the next scheduled transport. Information about the transport operation will also be posted on Virginia’s 511 system, which is available by dialing 511 on any telephone in Virginia and on the 511 Web site, www.511Virginia.org.
The transport plan has been carefully coordinated to minimize the effects on local schools, businesses and commuters. Virginia State Police will accompany the trucks to provide an escort and traffic control. In addition, a contingency plan has been developed to ensure that the transport does not interfere with morning commuter traffic along the Route 3 corridor.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is responsible for ensuring that the transport complies with all regulations and assisted with the coordination of the operation to reduce travel impacts.
Any questions about the transport operations should be directed to Diana Jennings, Coors Plant Communications Manager, (540) 289-8211; or Lou Hatter, VDOT Public Affairs, (540) 829-7537.
Page last modified: Tuesday, March 14, 2006
