Police to escort 420-tonne load travelling at just 8mph along M18

Drivers are being warned of potential delays on motorways near to Sheffield as police escort an ‘abnormal load’ through South Yorkshire.

Officers have put out a notice of possible delays on Sunday, November 8 from around 5pm.

They will be escorting 65 metres long, five metres wide, 420 tonnes load that can only travel at eight mph up the M1 northbound.

It will set off from junction 28, near to Goole, to junction 32 near Sheffield and Rotherham, where it will join onto the M18 heading towards Doncaster.

Due to the size of the load, it must leave and re-join the M18 at junction 2 for the A1 and junction 6 for Thorne, so delays are expected around those areas.

At around 9pm it will join the M62, with the westbound carriage way closed to allow the vehicle to travel to junction 36 and take the A161 towards Goole docks.

The escort is understood to be for a turbine rotor that has been manufactured in Rugby, it is loaded on a 330-tonne trailer with two 42 tonne tractor units pulling and pushing and running on 168 wheels.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “We are moving on Sunday as that is the quietest time on the network, as Monday to Saturday is far too busy.

“We cannot move in the early hours of the morning as we need to get the load into Goole docks and leaving at 5pm gives us flexibility should we encounter any problems. We don’t anticipate arriving at the docks until 1 or 2am.

“It is now starting to go dark around 5pm so expect to see lots of flashing blue and amber lights, if you are in the area as we need to keep the motorway safe for everyone.

“As always, thank you for your patience.”