Adjusting the roundabouts will shorten the journey
21 May 2013
Adjustments are underway currently on the ITER Itinerary, in advance of the test convoys planned for September (dimensions) and October (logistics and organization) 2013.
Since mid-April, work has been carried out under the direction of the French administration and the Bouches-du-Rhône department Council (Conseil général) to flatten roundabouts and adapt the dividers between roads to the requirements of the future ITER loads.
Combined with the use of new, more advanced transport platform, the on-going works will contribute to bring down to two or three nights the duration of the journey—as compared to the five nights that were originally anticipated.
The ITER Itinerary is 104 kilometres of specially adapted road for the passage of the ITER convoys from their landing point on the Mediterranean to the ITER site in Saint Paul-lez-Durance. The heaviest of these loads (transport vehicle included) will weigh nearly 900 tonnes. Other load characteristics are impressive as well: the longest load will measure over 40 metres; the widest, 9 metres, and the highest, 11 metres.