Heavy equipment megaloads up to 200 feet long and weighing 380 tons for Former Homer City power plant and data center will travel through western Pennsylvania communities starting next week. Therefore, approximately 50 shipments of large cargo will be traveling along Routes 66 and 22 through January to transport the $10 billion Homer City Power Plant & data center project. The Homer City Power Plant & data center is the largest data center and power plant project in the U.S. to date. Truck drivers will experience intermittent but extended traffic delays at 3 mph, while motorists should be prepared for similar delays.
Work started this year on the 4.4-GW natural gas-fired power plant and hyperscale data center in Homer City, Pa., in Indiana County. In particular, the foundation work for the above-ground construction has been conducted and started in April 2026. This will include seven heat recovery steam generators that will reap the wasted heat from the gas-turbine exhaust.
Edwards Moving and Rigging, of Kentucky, is handling the three-phase move. Thus, the initial phase would consist of shipping 20 components from Armstrong Terminal, Gilpin, to the Homer City location in the months of September and October, and deliveries would probably be completed in a day or two per shipment.
Other than this project, the East Riverside energy center, , a natural gas generation facility valued at $13 billion, will soon be built in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, representing the largest investment in the county’s history. As a result, the project will be located in Luzerne Township on the Monongahela River’s Fayette County bank and part of a $17 billion project in Pennsylvania.
Homer City Power Plant & Data Center Transport Requires Major Infrastructure Coordination
The truck and trailer transporting components measures 17 feet wide and 206 feet long, requiring significant route planning and infrastructure modifications. In addition, approximately 12 utility wire movements will need to be made using bucket trucks. Edwards Moving has worked over 18 months to figure out the best route and then seven to eight months working with PennDOT to make sure of coordination.
Also, route selection through Leechburg, North Apollo and Delmont was based on bridge weight capacity and clearances. In particular, the convoy will head down Route 66 through Leechburg, cross over River Road and the Apollo Bridge and proceed onto Route 22 to Indiana County.
Community Coordination Addresses Traffic Disruptions from Deliveries
The borough will be coordinating rolling closures and traffic management for the megaloads, leechburg mayor Doreen Smeal said. The Market Street intersections and the bridge will be closed for 20-30 minutes for each 90 degree turn and the actual turn will take about 15 minutes.
In addition, Edwards Moving offered to not transport on any of the time of the annual Pink Day at Leechburg on 19 September or during other planned community events. To avoid the effects of school bus traffic, the convoy is scheduled to leave at 8 a.m.
Project Overview
- Project Name: Homer City Power Plant Data Center
- Project Value: $10 Billion
- Location: Homer City, Indiana County, Pennsylvania
- Developer: Homer City Redevelopment LLC
- Status: Above-ground construction begun April 2026
Scope
- 4.4-gigawatt natural gas-fueled power plant
- Hyperscale data center facility
- Seven heat recovery steam generators
- Largest combination data center/power plant in US
- Largest natural gas power plant in nation
Project Highlights
- ~50 heavy equipment shipments through January 2027
- Megaloads up to 200 feet long, 380 tons each
- Three-phase transportation operation (Sept-Jan)
- Heat recovery system captures turbine exhaust
- About 12 transports require overhead wire raises
Key Developments
- Above-ground construction began April 2026
- Underground foundation work completed prior
- Equipment arriving by barge from Mobile, Alabama port
- Armstrong Terminal unloading begins September 8, 2026
- Phase 1 transportation starts September 9, 2026
Key Challenges
- Coordinating megaloads through populated municipalities
- Managing 20-30 minute traffic closures in Leechburg
- Navigating river locks with oversized barge loads
- Weather impacts on delivery schedule during fall/winter
- Also raising utility overhead wires for 12+ transports
Outlook
- Phase 1 transportation through October 2026
- Phase 2 begins November with 16 component shipments
- Phase 3 transportation in early January 2027
- Facility also targets full operational capacity post-construction
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