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Workers move a Coors beer fermentation tank barged to King George last fall. Forty tanks will be trucked to Elkton in March.

Giant Coors tanks soon to hit highway for 95-mile journey from King George to Shenandoah Valley

Date published: 2/18/2006

By RUSTY DENNEN

The 40 giant Coors fermenting tanks stored along State Route 3 in King George County will begin their improbable journey to the Shenandoah Valley March 5.

That Sunday, after midnight when traffic will be least affected, one of the 20- by 70-foot stainless steel tanks weighing 78,000 pounds will be loaded on a huge trailer for a test run to Coors' Elkton plant about 95 miles away.

The journey could take up to 11 hours, winding along Route 3 through Fredericksburg, Culpeper and Ruckersville over the mountains to the Shenandoah Valley town.

The brewer yesterday announced final details of the unprecedented move at a news conference with representatives of the Virginia Department of Transportation and Lockwood Brothers Inc., the Hampton firm handling the transfer.

"We wanted to share the details, and to get assistance in reaching out to the communities to be impacted," said Diana Jennings, spokeswoman at the Elkton plant.

"It's a very exciting time for us," she added.

Based in Golden, Colo., Coors Brewing Co. is adding a brewery to its East Coast distribution center in Elkton. The brewery is scheduled to open next year and will produce about 7 million barrels of beer annually.

The fermenting tanks, manufactured in Germany, were shipped to Hampton Roads and barged up the Rappahannock River to a landing at Farley Vale Farm in King George. Resembling rockets, the tanks have been stored nose to nose since they began arriving last fall.

Jennings said if the test run goes smoothly, with one tank aboard, the rest of the tanks will be moved--five at a time--each Wednesday and Sunday through March and finishing up April 2.

She noted that those are all tentative dates.

"Our blanket disclaimer is that this is all dependent upon the weather," she said.

Commuters and motorists are advised to be aware of the routes and the shipment times.

"This will impact traffic from Fredericksburg to the Shenandoah Valley," Jennings said. "Our plan is to maximize the safety of those involved with the transport, with the minimum effect on the traveling public."

Message boards informing motorists will be placed at four spots along the route, and updates will be posted on VDOT's Web site: virginiadot.org

Date published: 2/18/2006