Motorists warned to expect delays as huge 581 tonne abnormal load snakes through Staffordshire this morning
Motorists have been urged to be patient as a 581 tonne abnormal load is being transported through Staffordshire today (Saturday)
Staffordshire Police Road Harm Prevention Team is currently escorting the giant piece of machinery from Stafford to Cheshire where a transport ship is awaiting its delivery.
Staffordshire Police is posting updates of the journey to help motorists avoid the tailbacks caused by the convoy.
The team posted on X at 9am: "We will be moving this 581 tonne out of Stafford shortly along its normal route around the Town Centre. Onto Weston Rd, Beaconside. Then on A34 North to Stone and Newcastle. Round the town and continue through to Cheshire.
"It will be slow moving due to the size."
At 10am, the team posted: "We have now cleared #Stafford and are A34 North to #Stone. At Stone we will go until the opposing carriageway where we can release some traffic held behind.
When asked whether this is the right time to undertake such a slow and major transport operation, the police explained they had a deadline to hit.
Andy Easton asked on X: "Should be interesting with the M6 shut."
The police replied: "That's unfortunate. However this still needs to go as its booked on a Transport ship that would be an very expensive cancellation. Once we're in the A34 it keeps moving steadily and we can release some traffic at Stone and Trentham."
The UK's oldest transport company Collett.co.uk is delivering the cargo using some of the biggest vehicles allowed on British roads.
The Halifax based company has a fleet of vehicles including ships, its website claimed: "A vehicle is classified as an abnormal load if it: Has a weight of more than 44 tonnes, is more than 3 metres in width, as a rigid length of more than 18.65 metres.
The company added: "Transporting an abnormal load requires special permits, additional planning, and often police escorts."
