Let's try this again: Muskrat Falls transformers heading to Cartwright

Nalcor Energy announced Thursday that it is ready to ship seven huge electricaltransformers by barge to Cartwright and then over land to Muskrat Falls.

The first of two shipments out of the marine base in Bay Bulls, south of St. John's, is set for next week. Nalcor expects the equipment to be at the hydroelectric project by late September.

• Cartwright, Nalcor butt heads over transformer delivery

The sea leg of the journey to Labrador will take three to five days, according to the Crown corporation. After that, four separate road trips are needed to get the transformers fromCartwrightto Muskrat Falls.

Each round trip from southern Labrador to the project site will take one to two weeks.

"We've been working closely with General Electric, the contractor supplying and delivering the transformers, to ensure the transportation operation is carried out with minimal disruption to the public while ensuring the safety of the public and workers involved,"said project manager StephenFollett.

"The road transports will be very slow moving and controlled, with Safety First contracted to travel with each shipment to provide traffic management."

[Cartwright]does not have the jurisdiction to stop the movement of goods through the town.- Mayor Dwight Lethbridge

Nalcorhad hoped to move the 200-tonne transformers last fall, but residentsvoted at a public meeting in November to

stop the move in a dispute over how much soil and vegetation would be removed from the Muskrat Falls reservoir.

The town demanded there be clearcutting in a move to reduce methylmercury levels in the water.

Cartwright Mayor Dwight Lethbridgetold CBC News at the time that the town was also worriedits roads and infrastructure wouldn't be able to handle such a heavy load.

Lingering concerns

The town'sFacebookpagesays council met with Nalcor staff on May 2to talk about the timing of the shipments this summer. It saidsurveyors had mapped out the location of anoil pipe that runs underthe road as "an environmental precaution."

• Cartwright sends message to Nalcor: Muskrat Falls not welcome

The mayor wrote in a post just after the meeting withNalcorthat while there are many views on the project, "theCartwrightTown Councildoes not have the jurisdiction to stop the movement of goods through the townif they are not breaking laws."

The people will ultimately decide to handle the shipment however they see fit.- CartwrightMayor Dwight Lethbridge

He pointed out the benefits up to 40 people working in the area, who would need food and accommodations, possibly renting out the school gymnasium.

But, in an acknowledgement of the prickly relationship between Labradorians and the company behind the Muskrat Falls project, Lethbridge wrote that council couldn't guarantee there will not be any protests this time.

"We told them the people will ultimately decide to handle the shipment however they see fit. They say that they respect that and hope to build better relationships."