Wide load may cause hold-ups (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Wide load may cause hold-ups

A GIANT electricity transformer winding its way through rural Wiltshire tomorrow may cause delays for motorists.

A police escort will accompany the 244-tonne piece of equipment from Avonmouth docks near Bristol to a Minety electric sub station.

The turbo transformer, which is 16ft 7ins wide, 17ft 4ins tall and 17ft 10ins long, will travel at 15-20mph.

Marked police cars will travel at the front and rear of the load with up to six motorcyclists, who will ensure traffic is stopped and make sure the load is not impeded.

Inspector Wayne Smith, of Wiltshire Police, said: "The escort of these loads has been tried and tested over a number of years.

"The early Sunday morning start will keep congestion to a minimum but it is fair to warn the travelling public there may be some delays.

"Our officers will try to keep that congestion to the minimum."

The transformer was built in Scot-land and transported south by ship.

It will leave Avonmouth docks at 8am on Saturday and Avon and Somerset Police will travel with the convoy to Leigh Delamere Sevices, where it will remain overnight.

Officers from Wiltshire will take over at 7am on Sunday. The load will travel along the M4 to junction 16 where it will join the A3102 towards Wootton Bassett.

At the Coped Hall roundabout, the convey will travel along the Malmesbury Road on the B4042 for one mile before turning right onto the B4696 towards Ashton Keynes.

After two miles, it will turn left onto the road leading to Braydon Manor, then turn right towards Minety and is expected to arrive at lunch time.

At the crossroads in Minety, the convoy will turn left and travel on the B4040 for two miles before turning right to its final destination at the Minety Power Station.

Bhavani Vadde