Workers move large gas turbine through SU streets
Workers from Project Orange Associates moved a gas turbine module through some Syracuse University streets Wednesday without issue.
The turbine moved from the Project Orange site off Taylor Street to a storage facility on Brighton Avenue, according to an SU News Services alert e-mailed to students Tuesday. The move began at 10 a.m. and finished at about 4 p.m., said Sara Miller, associate director of SU News Services. Weather permitting, workers will move a second gas turbine module Friday, Miller said.
All students received an e-mail informing them of the move, and South Campus residents also received an e-mail encouraging students to take an earlier bus because of possible traffic delays.
The vehicle transporting the wind turbine traveled at a low speed, 5 mph, and was escorted by the Syracuse Police Department, according to the e-mails. The turbine move was expected to slow and delay traffic on streets in the university area, including Waverly and Comstock avenues.
Other streets in the area mentioned in the e-mail included Jamesville Road, Ainsley Drive, East Brighton Avenue and Burt, Almond, Taylor, South Townsend, East Adams and Genesee streets, according to the e-mails.
Police vehicles escorted the transportation unit as a means of traffic control, said SPD Sgt. Gary Bulinski. He did not know the number of vehicles present during the move. Bulinski also said there were no calls of accidents as a result of the move.
Demolition of the Project Orange steam plant, which had smokestacks that were visible from University Avenue on campus, began in January, according to an article published in The Daily Orange on Jan. 31.
The company cut off steam supply to SU in October 2009 because of disagreements about faulty turbines and steam production costs, according to an article published in The Daily Orange on Oct. 21, 2009. In an agreement made with SU in 1990, Project Orange provided the university with a 33 percent discount on steam purchases above a specific quantity, according to the article.
Heinrich Kirschner, facility manager for Project Orange, declined to comment on the gas turbine transportation.
Published on February 23, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Contact Meghin: medelane@syr.edu | @meghinwithani
