Megaload at Conner, Starts Journey through Bitterroot

With good traveling weather, the first of three megaloads to pass through Montana, on its way to Canada, crossed over Lost Trail Pass and parked along US 93 at Conner Monday morning.

The moving company, Omega-Morgan, will be moving the 350-foot long trailer through Hamilton Monday night and Tuesday morning. Montana Department of Transportation officials said some of the town's signal lights may have to be adjusted to let the 19-foot tall oil refinery equipment pass underneath.

If all goes as planned, the 799,900 pound shipment will pull off at the Lolo weigh station south of Missoula Tuesday morning.

The Montana moving permit allows the loads to travel only between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. with other vehicle delays limited to 15 minutes. The first of the three megaloads is the biggest and has been parked on the Idaho side of Lost Trail Pass for over a week, waiting for the weather to clear.

A second, smaller load is also on the Idaho side of Lost Trail Pass near Salmon, and a third megaload has yet to start its trip along the same route from Oregon.

Monday, area residents stopped and took pictures of the highly publicized equipment.