Q: You recently reported on the transport of a large turbine to South America. I’m interested in knowing how they transported it from Rome to Atlanta. Knowing the size of the truck and the roads between those cities, I don’t see how they were able traverse this area with such an oversized vehicle.
—Charles Peters, Cartersville
A: The 17-axle, 75-wheel tractor-trailer hauling the 105-ton turbine left Rome by taking Ga. 1 loop to Ga. 53 North on the night of Dec. 11.
It turned onto Ga. 140 East and continued until it reached Interstate 75 South in Adairsville, according to the travel plan provided by GE Power Services to Q&A on the News in an email.
The truck took a planned detour onto Wade Green Road in Kennesaw because of construction on the interstate, and returned to I-75 at Chastain Road.
It continued on I-75 until it reached the vicinity of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport about 2 a.m. Dec. 12.
The turbine is the heaviest item transported from Hartsfield.
Q: How many people in the United States have security clearances and for what reason?
—David Davis, Newnan
A: There were 5.1 million people in the United States with government security clearances as of October 2013.
Of those, 1.5 million had top-secret clearance, according to figures released by the Office of Management and Budget and reported by The Washington Post.
People, including military personnel, must have security clearances to access and view classified information.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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