‘Oversized load’ moving through East TN expected to cause delays: What to know

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Department of Transportation is warning drivers about an oversized load set to move through East Tennessee that could cause delays.

Starting Sunday evening, June 30, an oversized load on US 27 in Morgan County will begin moving toward Sullivan County. The transportation will place each night between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Sunday, June 30, and Monday, July 1.

The load is 20 feet wide, 229 feet long, 17 feet tall and weighs 410,000 pounds. TDOT shared that Tennessee Highway Portal officers will provide escort along the route.

The transport will start on U.S. 27, just north of Wartburg and the tentative overnight stop will be on U.S. 25E two miles south of Tazewell. The final destination is listed as Kingsport, Tennessee.

TDOT shared that the transport will follow this route: US 27S in Oakdale, crossover to opposite side of the road onto SR 61E, then Winter Gap Road, Railroad Avenue, and Knox Street to SR 62E in Oak Ridge, crossover to opposite side of the road onto SR 170, then US 25W to SR 61E, US 441S, SR 33N, to US 25E (southbound), in Bean Station, then a left onto West Main Street East, to US 11W North in Church Hill, crossover to opposite side of the road onto SR 346 NE (Carters Valley Road), then US 23S to Exit 4B, on to SR 93, to SR 126N, to Lincoln Street North, and onto 12th Street in Kingsport.

Drivers are advised to expect delays and urged to use “extreme caution” as workers will be present along the route.

Eastman Chemical Company confirmed to WATE’s sister station, WJHL, that the load is the first of three pieces of equipment that will be transported to its Kingsport plant as part of a planned upgrade. The equipment will replace existing equipment. The other two transports are expected to occur in mid-July.

“Equipment transport will be slow and will impact traffic both inside and outside the plant,” an Eastman spokesperson said. “We are working with all appropriate transportation authorities for safe transport and to minimize disruption as we can.”

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