Motorists have been warned to expect traffic delays when a 'wide load' is transported from Heysham Port along the M6 this Saturday.
A huge electricity transformer is being carried from the port to a holding site at Longtown north of Carlisle in Cumbria.
The load will be moving at around 12mph along the M6 and drivers are being asked to exercise extra patience and care when overtaking in lane three of the motorway.
The operation begins at 9am from Heysham on Saturday and will last around 12 hours.
The load, more than six metres wide and weighing 450 tonnes, will travel north up the M6 from junction 34 near Lancaster all the way through Cumbria - straddling two lanes of the carriageway.
It will then move into Scotland up the A74(M) where it will turn and head south – re-joining the M6 and then leaving the southbound carriageway at junction 45
Once in Cumbria, the vehicle will park on a closed lane of the northbound exit slip road at junction 39 for a planned break before resuming its journey. .
The load will exit the southbound M6 motorway at junction 45 – reversing up the entry slip road ahead of the final leg of its journey to Longtown.
Drivers may be stopped temporarily at locations around junction 45 when the load is leaving the motorway.
The transformer is helping the transition to greener energy by supporting wind power generation in southern Scotland by the region's infrastructure company SP Energy Networks.
“This is an unusually wide abnormal loads movement but we’ve been liaising with the police as well as the authorities in Scotland to keep any disruption to other drivers’ journeys to a minimum," said Gordon Beattie, National Highways’ abnormal loads manager.
A spokesperson for Lancaster Area Police said: "We'll be assisting in moving a large load from Jnc 34 near Lancaster up through Cumbria, meaning there will be delays."
Drivers are advised to check traffic conditions before setting out on journeys.
Live traffic information is always available at www.trafficengland.com or from National Highways’ 24-7 customer contact centre at 0300 123 5000. Updates will also be posted to @HighwaysNWest – National Highways’ regional X feed.
UPDATE: Two men charged with robbery and burglary offences at Morecambe and Lancaster shops
LISTEN: Community garden taking shape in memory of Heysham toddler
Second earthquake in two days hits Silverdale as tremors felt across Morecambe Bay
£2.5m funding boost for Eden Project Morecambe will help create new visitor zone
British Transport Police office returns to Lancaster Railway Station
Ryelands Community Connect scheme aims to bring together locals
Twenty vehicles caught speeding during police crackdown in Lancaster
Councillors call for halt to demolition of vandalised Morecambe 'youth hut'
Coastal pollution clean-up training to be held on Morecambe beach
Man seriously injured at Morecambe pub "making excellent progress" as investigation continues
Vandals target tractors used by King's Guide to Sands of Morecambe Bay to keep walkers safe
MP hopes for improved mobile signal at last as new mast installed in Lancaster
Maternity services at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary officially exit national special measures
Crews tackle kitchen fire in Lancaster
Opening date announced for animal rescue charity's new Morecambe home
Lancaster MP takes on Morecambe 10K in aid of new children's playground
Tributes paid to twice-Lancaster mayor who served on council for 56 years
Dancing Eric Morecambe Statue part of police campaign to warn about AI deepfakes
PHOTOS: Great Wall of China trek raises more than £300K for Lancaster hospice
Another earthquake hits Silverdale as tremors felt across Lancaster and Morecambe Bay
