Impressive trucks roll through villages

By David Hart

Irregular Staff

Here just one of the 200 massive trucks destined for the Kibby Wind Power project north of Eustis winds through the streets of Kingfield Thursday afternoon. This 150-foot blade section was escorted by three state police officers as well as other escort vehicles. (David Hart photo)

KINGFIELD -- TransCanada’s shipment of its first phase of the 44-turbine project has begun arriving. Twenty-two of the turbines will arrive over the next month coming from the Searsport Marine Terminal. It is reported that it takes 10 trucks to haul the parts for the construction of each turbine.

The windmill sections are destined to be installed on Kibby Mountain and Kibby Mountain Range, between Eustis and Coburn Gore. 

"Motorists encountering the convoys should expect traffic tie-ups because of the size of the windmill sections," said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

A number of Maine roads are being used to transport the windmill sections along the 145 mile route.

"Motorists who regularly travel these roads should expect delays or plan for alternative routes," McCausland said.  

A blade passes Anni's store in downtown Kingfield. (Andrew Murphy photo)

These roads are Route 1 from Searsport to Belfast, Route 3 from Belfast  to Augusta, Route 104  from Augusta to Sidney, Route 23 from Sidney to Oakland, Route 139 from Oakland to Norridgewock, Route 2 from  Norridgewock to Farmington and Route 27 from Farmington to the project's private road south of Coburn Gore.