September 19, 2013
Scotland

14-week operation to move massive turbine parts from Dundee

By Andrew Liddle, 18 September 2013, thecourier.co.uk

Moving wind turbine parts from Dundee docks to Stonehaven may cause traffic delays for 14 weeks.

Abnormal load vehicles are due to start shipping 25 turbines on Thursday.

It is estimated that with one convoy of three vehicles making the journey every day except Sunday, it will take 12-14 weeks to complete delivery.

The oversized lorries will leave with the turbines from the docks at Stannergate at around 9.30am, travelling along Broughty Ferry Road, and up to Kingsway East to the Forfar road, where they will continue on the A90, B9077 and A957.

route

The turbines are destined for the Mid Hill Wind Farm, between Stonehaven and Banchory, and Aberdeenshire Council have urged drivers in these areas to allow extra time for their journeys.

A trial run of the route last Friday left one oversized lorry trapped on the Scott Fyffe roundabout in Dundee for half an hour.

Work has already taken place to remove vegetation from a number of roundabouts on the planned route through Dundee, including at Stannergate, Scott Fyfe, Mid Craigie and Pitkerro Road.

A special slip road has also been built on the Strips of Craigie road to facilitate access.

Will Dawson, convener of Dundee City Council’s development committee, said: “We are delighted that a wind turbine manufacturer has chosen to use Dundee Port as its point of entry into Scotland for its blades.

“These minor changes to a number of roundabouts, junctions and street lights were always going to happen as part of our strategy to encourage the manufacture of onshore and offshore renewable hardware in Dundee.

“They follow on from work that has already been done to strengthen the Stannergate Bridge and to the Broughty Ferry Road/Greendykes Road junction.

“The decision to bring the turbine blades to Scotland via the city for onward movement by road to a new windfarm in Aberdeenshire has given us the chance to do the works now.

“It puts another piece of the jigsaw in place to encourage the leading players in the renewables industry to manufacture their equipment here and illustrates perfectly that Dundee is open for renewables business.”

A police spokeswoman said: “We are advising members of the public of a number of windfarm related abnormal loads to be moved from Dundee Harbour to Mid Hill Windfarm, Stonehaven.

“It is anticipated the abnormal loads will start to be moved on Thursday September 19 and continue for 14 weeks.

“Tayside Division would like to thank the public in advance for their patience during the movement of these abnormal loads.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/09/19/14-week-operation-to-move-massive-turbine-parts-from-dundee/