Leechburg business preparing for massive delivery to move through town

LEECHBURG, Pa. — Cicero’s in downtown Leechburg, like many businesses, is preparing for the mega-load trucks to move through their small town.

The turn onto Market Street will be one of the trucks’ major moments, and people in town can’t wait to watch.

“This intersection is a very controversial topic in town,” said Olivia Albert Rapone, the co-owner of Cicero’s Bar and Grill. “So when they said it was coming right through here and that’s where they were going to be turning, I think that we kind of all chuckled a little bit because people can’t drive through this intersection on a normal day.”

Cicero’s sits at the busy corner of Market and Third Street in Downtown Leechburg. It’s one of the areas that will soon see massive shipping containers move through, very slowly, driving at just 3 to 15 miles per hour.

“When they are moving these loads through, of course we get trucks starting anywhere from 6:30 in the morning, and that can extend through our lunch hour. So we are going to be catching the brunt of all of this,” Albert-Rapone said.

The equipment is currently being taken off the river at the Armstrong terminal and will then travel through Armstrong, Westmoreland and Indiana counties to Homer City starting Sept. 14.

“Our tallest module is 16 feet, 10 inches tall, and we are grossing with our truck, trailer and everything around 750,000 pounds,” said Willie Sanford with Edwards Moving and Rigging.

Sanford said only first responders will be allowed around the trucks and they will start moving after 9 a.m. to avoid school buses. When going through small towns like Leechburg, they will also have to maneuver around street signs, lights, and utility wires.

“We will have multiple bucket trucks from Midwest Electric that will be with us,” Sanford explained. “Most of the wires will be raised with what we call push sticks. Some of your stoplights will have to have the truck raise those because the lights are heavy and the sticks can’t get them up enough.”

Sanford said the turn from Third Street onto Market will be one of their most difficult, but he encourages people to come and watch as long as they stay back from the road.

Albert-Rapone said their restaurant will have a front-row seat, so they will embrace the action.

“We are going to be exposed to it for what seems like an extended period, but when are we going to see this happen again, if ever, I don’t know, so if you can do it in a safe manner,” Albert- Rapone said. “So, why not!”

Channel 11 expects to get an update every night at 7 p.m. with the schedule for the next day to help drivers. That will start Monday the 14 and last through January.

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