Traffic delays were expected Wednesday as crews begin hauling heavy equipment from the Mississippi River to ConocoPhillips in Roxana.

WRB Refining LLC, Wood River Refinery, which is jointly owned by ConocoPhillips and EnCana, will begin a series of large equipment moves starting at 9 a.m. in Hartford at the Phoenix Terminal on the riverfront. The move is a part if the refinery expansion project.

Keesha Dhaene, a spokeswoman for ConocoPhillips, said today's move includes two bridge modules for a new pipe bridge being erected across Illinois Route 111. She said each module measures 172.5 feet long, 22.5 feet wide and 14.08 feet high and weighs more than 169,000 pounds.

Movers will travel north along Illinois Route 3, turn east onto the new Robbins Road extension, north onto Illinois Route 111 to the main gate at ConocoPhillips.

Dhaene said that during the duration of the heavy hauls, measurements would vary depending upon the vessel or module being hauled. It is estimated that there will be approximately 200 "heavy haul" trips made to the refinery through next February.

The hauls travel approximately six miles via convoy at a speed of around 2 to 3 mph. Signage will be placed on major roadways alerting drivers of upcoming closures and detours.

Dhaene said the refinery is working closely with local and state authorities on the timing and execution of the hauls. All permits regarding the large moves have been issued through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Telegraph, Alton, Ill. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.