Why a 90 km Oversize Transport Became a 300 km Mission

On a conventional road map, the distance between WTB Berceni and the Petrotel Lukoil refinery in Ploiești is around 90 km.

For a standard vehicle, that would be a relatively straightforward journey.

For a 200-tonne oversize convoy carrying an industrial reactor, the transport required a completely different approach: a carefully engineered route of approximately 300 km.

The project is a good example of why, in oversize transport, the distance between two points does not necessarily determine the transport route.

The cargo and transport configuration

The cargo was an industrial reactor weighing 128.4 tonnes.

The reactor itself measured:

• 31.21 m in length

• 4.30 m in width

• 4.639 m in height

The cargo was transported on an 18-axle modular trailer configuration. Once the reactor was loaded onto the transport configuration the convoy reached:

• 36 m overall length

• 4.30 m overall width

• 5.60 m overall height

• approximately 200 tonnes total mass

The axle configuration consisted of a four-axle tractor and an 18-axle modular trailer, with the trailer distributing the load across 18 axles at approximately 9 tonnes per axle.

These were the dimensions and loads that had to be considered when engineering the route.

Why the direct route was not the solution

The route study therefore assessed road geometry, bridges and other structures, structural capacity, vertical and horizontal restrictions, turning requirements, traffic restrictions and the sections requiring specific traffic-management measures.

The resulting corridor extended through:

The estimated transport distance was approximately 300 km.

The additional kilometres were therefore a consequence of infrastructure compatibility, not a simple detour.

Civil Works and Infrastructure Modifications

Selecting the route was only part of the project.

Several sections of the existing infrastructure also had to be prepared for the convoy. Our team carried out the necessary civil works and infrastructure modifications to create the required transport envelope.

The works included:

• Removal of concrete barriers

• Dismantling of roadside signalling structures

• Removal or adaptation of roadside obstacles

• Modification of access points

• Preparation of critical crossing areas

• Adaptation of traffic arrangements where required

The project documentation specifically identifies the removal of concrete barriers and signalling structures as part of the route preparation.  

These civil works were integrated into the transport planning, allowing the selected corridor to accommodate the complete convoy.

From 90 km to 300 km

This project demonstrates why distance alone is not a useful measure of complexity in oversize transport.

What looked like a 90 km journey became a 300 km transport mission, supported by route engineering, infrastructure assessment and targeted civil works.

In oversize transport, the shortest route is almost never the feasible route.