Finding megaloads route proving to be megahurdle

Finding a route for megaloads to travel through Coeur d’Alene has been a megahurdle.

The public commented in December on hauler Mammoet USA South’s request for special-use permits to transport three 1.6 million-pound loads of oil refinery equipment through Coeur d’Alene.

The proposed route includes 5.5 miles along east Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive and use of a temporary Interstate 90 on-ramp west of Higgens Point to bypass the Veterans Memorial Bridge and re-enter the freeway.

However, the Federal Highway Administration has ordered that an environmental assessment be done for the proposal, so U.S. 95 to Highway 200, from Ponderay near Sandpoint to Clark Fork, is now being considered as an alternate route, said Jason Minzghor, Idaho Transportation Department operations manager.

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