U.P. Traffic Affected by Mine Equipment Move

Moving a piece of oversized mining equipment from the Michigan-Wisconsin border in Dickinson County to the Tilden Mine in Marquette County will have an impact on travel today along several Upper Peninsula roads.

Cliffs Natural Resources is working with a transportation company to move the piece of equipment that is related to a future repair of one of the Tilden Mine’s rotary pelletizing kilns. The kilns are used to heat-harden concentrated iron ore pellets to allow for shipment to steel making facilities in North America.

The oversized piece of equipment is a kiln shell piece that is 26-feet in diameter and weighs approximately 67 tons. This kiln shell will move similar to one moved in 2009.

As a result of the material movement, the trucking company has been working with the Michigan Department of Transportation and local law enforcement agencies to determine which roads will be affected. Due to the size of the load, motorists may experience reduced travel times if they encounter the kiln moving through their area this afternoon.

“We realize this may be a slight inconvenience for motorists as the vehicle passes through the communities between the Florence County, Wisconsin area and the mines,” said Dale Hemmila, Cliffs’ director of public affairs. “However, this is the most expeditious way to move this large kiln shell to the mine.”

The cargo movement will affect vehicle travel on roads from the Michigan-Wisconsin border at Florence, WI to the Tilden mine. The truck carrying the kiln shell will use the following route in the Upper Peninsula:

…Beginning at U.S. 2 North at U.S 141 at the Michigan-Wisconsin border (at approximately 12:00 noon EDT)

…to M-69 East

…to M-95 North

…to U.S. 41 East

…to M-553 South

…to Marquette County Road 480 West

…to M-35 South

…to the Empire Mine entrance at Palmer, Michigan (arriving at approximately 4:00 PM EDT)