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Broken weld sends transformer load onto U.S. 26

An electric transformer dropped from the trailer on which it was being hauled Tuesday afternoon, resulting in damage to U.S. 26 east of Shoshone and closure of the route for repairs.

Southwest Industrial Rigging of Phoenix was transporting the oversized load from Gooding to Jerome when a weld on the trailer apparently failed at about 1:30 p.m., dropping the 952,000-pound transformer onto the highway.

The route closed early Wednesday, opened to a single lane of traffic Wednesday night and closed again Thursday morning to enable reloading of the transformer to another trailer. Both lanes of the highway opened to traffic late Thursday morning.

Published 5-20-2011