Heavy load brings Wolverhampton streets to a standstill

It weighed 400 tonnes, was 80 metres long, six metres wide, had dozens of wheels and caused chaos around Wolverhampton on Sunday.

The gigantic electricity transformer, which was being slowly guided through the city, was being transported from Ellesmere Port in Cheshire to Ocker Hill Power Station in Tipton, via Wolverhampton.

Motorists may have seen signs that an 'abnormal load' was due to cause traffic delays on Sunday and that was certainly the case, with queues stretching way back behind the transformer.

A large team of police and other staff were monitoring the streets ahead, even removing railings and signposts that it wouldn't be able to squeeze by.

Parking restrictions were put in place along the route until it had passed through.

And rolling road closures were in operation, including in both directions in some places due to the sheer size of the vehicle, which sometimes had to travel on the opposite side of the road in order to negotiate roundabouts.

Wolverhampton councillor Claire Darke was among those who came across the giant transformer while she was travelling on Tettenhall Road, by the former Halfway House pub.

She said a big crowd had gathered to take a look.

"It was funny, we were in the car talking about it and we got to the traffic lights and there it was.

"There was quite a crowd – everyone had come out to get a look.

"Railings were being taken down so it could squeeze through and there were only inches to spare.

The thing could wiggle from side to side and the whole trailer could lift up a bit – it was a big operation."

Greenery and branches dropped onto the top of the transformer as it picked up debris along its long journey.

More staff followed behind the vehicle, replacing railings and returning signs to their normal positions.

"They had an efficient and organised team sorting everything out along the way," Councillor Darke added.

"It seemed like the trailer was being pushed as well as being pulled.

"The trailer itself was fantastic and the whole thing was quite exciting."