While most of the state is sleeping this weekend, one of the biggest road movements in New South Wales’ history will be taking place.
After starting its journey late on Friday night, the second of six massive spiral cases for the Snowy 2.0 power station is being transported 442km from Port Kembla to Lobs Hole in the Snowy Mountains.
Spread out over three nights, the drive time for each load is 20 hours with the latest spiral case on track to reach its destination early on Monday morning.
Each spiral case weighs 153t and is more than 13m long, 7.5m wide and almost 3m high.
The total combined size of the truck and load is a huge 63m long, 7.5m wide and 4.4m high, weighing more than 306t.
Two prime movers are needed to pull, and a third to push the load on a 14 axle specifically built trailer.
The road movements will follow Springhill Road, Masters Road, Princess Motorway M1, Picton Road, Hume Highway, Federal Highway, Monaro Highway, Snowy Mountains Highway as primary routes.
The convoy communicated its approach to each roadway to assist with safe passage through the Transport network.
To safely shift the spiral cases through the road network, the prime movers have three police cars and three pilot vehicle escorts, a supervisor ahead to help navigate cornering, bridges and traffic control and a mechanical support vehicle on standby.
Transport for NSW worked with freight company Lampsons, Snowy 2.0 principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture, and NSW Police who helped facilitate the transfer, to identify a safe window to start moving the spiral cases.
A headcover was transported the weekend of 18 November, with the first spiral case transported over the weekend of 1 December.
The second spiral case is being transported this weekend, following the same route and itinerary. The remaining four cases will be transported in early 2024.
The spiral cases are essential components from Snowy 2.0 electromechanical subcontractor, Voith Hydro, to build pumped hydro units for Snowy Hydro’s underground power station at Lobs Hole.
Transport for NSW’s Development Services, Network Operations, Freight, and Customer Coordination and Service Delivery teams assisted in enabling the moves with some temporary network adjustments put in place to facilitate this massive movement.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
“The safe and smooth transportation of these spiral cases is just one part of the freight operation for Snowy Hydro’s Snowy 2.0 project.
“It’s also another example of great team-work between Transport for NSW, NSW Police, the freight industry and the Snowy 2.0 team.
“While most of these spiral cases will be transported at night when there is minimal traffic on the roads, anyone who does see them being moved should slow down and obey all road rules and follow the directions of police and all other road users.”
For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW app, visit livetraffic.comlaunch or call 132 701launch.
Information about the Snowy 2.0 projectlaunch
| Route details | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Start at Tom Thumb Road, Port Kembla, NSW | Day 1 – 11pm |
| Turn left onto Springhill Rd | |
| Turn right onto Masters Rd | |
| Turn left onto Picton Rd | |
| Turn left onto Hume Hwy | |
| Turn to contraflow southbound bridge at Black Bobs Ck | |
| Turn to continue correct side after Black Bobs Ck | |
| Arrive truck parking bay, Goulburn, NSW | 6:30am |
| Start at Hume Hwy, Goulburn, NSW | Day 2 – 9:30pm |
| Turn left onto Federation Hwy | |
| Arrive ACT border, Eagle Hawke | |
| Turn left onto Majura Parkway | |
| Arrive NSW border, Williamsdale | |
| Arrive Four Mile, Cooma | 4:48am |
| Start at Four Mile, Cooma | Day 3 – 9:30pm |
| Turn right to continue on Snowy Mountains Hwy | |
| Arrive Rock Forest | |
| Turn left onto Link Rd | |
| Finish at Link Rd Turnaround Bay, Lobs Hole, NSW | 3:14am |