Upstate NY Traffic Alert: Giant Transformer Moves From Massena to Malone

Legit WIDE Load

If the commute through the North Country feels a little slower than usual today, there’s a very big reason why.

New York State Police and the New York State Department of Transportation are escorting a massive, oversized electrical transformer through Franklin County, and this thing is moving at a snail’s pace.

16 Feet Tall, 300 Tons

The transformer measures about 16 feet tall and weighs roughly 615,000 pounds, which is more than 300 tons. To put that into perspective, it weighs about the same as five adult African elephants, a fully loaded school bus, or a small construction crane.

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It’s not something you see rolling down a North Country highway every day, and with its massive size and multi-axle trailer, it looks a bit like something straight out of Star Wars, resembling the towering AT-AT walkers from The Empire Strikes Back.

Because of its enormous size and weight, the convoy is traveling at a maximum speed of about 8 miles per hour. The escort departed the Massena railyard around 9 a.m. and will proceed to Malone along a carefully planned route. It will head north on State Highway 420, then left onto State Highway 37, continuing to State Route 56 through Potsdam. From there, it will turn onto State Route 11B and continue into Malone.

Motorists should expect delays throughout the morning and early afternoon and are encouraged to plan extra travel time or seek alternate routes.