Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil is cutting down the size of 33 loads of equipment headed for an oil sands project in Alberta, Canada so they can be moved along interstate highways, the Missoulian and Lewiston Tribune newspapers reported today. "Because of delays in getting the oversized permits from both Idaho and Montana, Imperial is planning to begin reducing the size of the 33 modules in Lewiston to mitigate further schedule and cost exposure to the construction site," Imperial/Exxon spokesman Pius Rolheiser told the Missoulian on Monday; click below for a full report.

Imperial Oil cutting down size of megaloads

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil is cutting down the size of 33 loads of equipment headed for an oil sands project in Alberta, Canada so they can be moved along interstate highways, a company official said.

"Because of delays in getting the oversized permits from both Idaho and Montana, Imperial is planning to begin reducing the size of the 33 modules in Lewiston to mitigate further schedule and cost exposure to the construction site," Imperial/Exxon spokesman Pius Rolheiser told the Missoulian on Monday.

The reduced size will allow the loads to comply with interstate height restrictions. Rolheiser didn't have details about what route would be taken once the loads were made smaller.

"The important thing is, our original plan remains our preferred option," said Rolheiser, who last week dismissed "rumors and speculation" that the equipment being held at the Port of Lewiston was going to be cut down to a size that could move under interstate overpasses. "We're continuing to work with regulatory agencies in both Idaho and Montana to progress permits for future modules."

Imperial/Exxon initially sought permits for 207 oversized loads of Korean-manufactured equipment to be moved from the Port of Lewiston over U.S. 12 into Montana and north into Canada.

However, taking into account the 33 loads being cut down and another 60 loads the company says it has begun moving from the Port of Vancouver in Washington along Interstates 90 and 15, the number of supersized loads the company wants to move on U.S. 12 falls to about 115. About a dozen of the loads from Washington state have moved into Canada and Rolheiser said the company has permits for up to four a week for the month beginning Feb. 7.

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Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com