At 80 tonnes and 90 metres long, these wind turbine blades are among the biggest loads to be transported on NSW roads – and a total of 198 of them will be delivered to wind farms in Rye Park and Flyers Creek.
Rex J Andrews Pty Ltd, which specialises in over dimensional specialised freight, is currently transporting these giant wind turbine blades along the 530km route from Newcastle to Rye Park in Southern NSW.
The Rye Park Wind Farm is situated to the north of Yass and east of Boorowa, on the edge of the Southern Tablelands and the South-West Slopes near the township of Rye Park.
Construction of the Rye Park Wind Farm began in 2021, with OSOM wind turbine, tower and blade deliveries starting in November 2022 and expected to continue until late 2023.
The huge wind turbine loads currently being transported are also 4.8m wide and 5.2 metres high.
They are being moved under police escort from Newcastle, with the help of Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and the Newcastle City Police District, which advises that almost 20 components are currently being moved a week.
While the moves are being carried out at night, TfNSW is advising road users who come across the “Blade Runner” trucks to provide plenty of space and follow the directions of the escort vehicles.
Once fully operational, the Rye Park Wind Farm will deliver an average annual energy production of 1188 GWh (lifetime P50), which is equivalent to powering approximately 215,000 homes.