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M6 burn chamber headed to Minden

by Minden Press-Herald

The burn chamber that will destroy nearly 16 million pounds of demilitarized M6 artillery propellant was expected to have left the Natchitoches Parish Port early Monday morning.

Col. Pete Schneider, public information officer for the Louisiana Military Department, says the chamber was moved from the barge on the Red River to a heavy hauler truck last week and is expected to make it to Camp Minden no later than Friday.

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development officials say the chamber is expected to reach Camp Minden Thursday.

“LDOTD advises motorists that a burn chamber transport headed from the Port of Natchitoches to Camp Minden will snarl traffic significantly along the route beginning Monday, Feb. 8 until it arrives at Camp Minden on Thursday, Feb. 11,” officials said.

LDOTD released the route the chamber will move along as it makes its way north. The chamber is 182 feet long by 27 feet, six inches high and 25 feet, 10 inches wide. It will travel at speeds not exceeding 15 miles per hour.

Officials warn that disruption of electrical service is expected, but multiple utility and electric companies will be involved throughout the transport to decrease disruption of service as much as possible.

The Route

  • The transport begins at the Port in Natchitoches and travels along La. 486 to turn east on La. 6. From La. 6, the transport will turn north onto U.S. 71/84. The transport will stop overnight at around 5 p.m. on Day 1 in Coushatta near the U.S. 84W and U.S. 71N split.
  • The transport will resume Tuesday, Feb. 9 at around 8 a.m. and travel along U.S. 71 to Elm Grove. The transport will stop overnight at around 5 p.m. on Day 2 across the street from the Elm Grove Post Office.
  • The transport will resume Wednesday, Feb. 10 between 8:30 and 9 a.m., traveling on U.S. 71 to La. 527. The transport will turn left onto La. 157 and will stop overnight at around 5 p.m. near the intersection of La. 157 and La. 612.
  • The transport will resume Thursday, Feb. 11 sometime after 9 a.m. to allow for school transportation in the area. The transport will continue on La. 157 to the intersection of La. 3227, where it will turn right onto La. 3227. The transport will continue on La. 3227 and turn left on La. 164. The transport will continue on La. 164 and turn right at U.S. 79/80.

Intersection Closures Feb. 10-11

  • Intersection of U.S. 71 and La. 527, Bossier Parish, at around 9:30 a.m., Wednesday. This intersection closure, to allow the transport to turn onto La. 527 from U.S. 71 is expected to last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours with portions of time being a complete closure and other portions being a partial closure. While the transport is on La. 527 heading toward La. 157, no large commercial vehicles will be allowed to turn onto westbound La. 527 from La. 157. Regular vehicles will be limited to local traffic only.
  • Intersection of La. 527 and La. 157, Bossier Parish, at around 1:30 p.m., Wednesday. This complete intersection closure, to allow the transport to turn onto La. 157 from La. 527 is expected to last anywhere from 45 minutes to a couple of hours. The transport will stop overnight near the intersection of La. 157 and La. 612 (Sligo Road). The load will park on the right shoulder and northbound lane, leaving the north turn lane and normal southbound lanes open to traffic. The transport will be well lit and signs placed to alert motorists.
  • Intersection of La. 157 and La. 3227, Bossier Parish, at around 11 a.m., Thursday. This complete intersection closure, to allow the transport to turn right onto La. 3227, is expected to last about 15 minutes. Traffic on I-20 will be closely monitored to avoid off-ramp back up at this location.
  • U.S. 79/80 partial closure, Webster Parish, at around 1 p.m., Thursday. The westbound traffic on U.S. 79/80 will be diverted onto Goodwill Road, as the transport crosses lanes of traffic to travel eastbound in the westbound lanes. This diversion is expected to last until the transport turns onto Freight Entrance Road at Camp Minden.

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