CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Airgas plant in the Industrial Park is expanding, and to make it happen, several large truckloads will need to be moved across the city starting this week. Some of the truck loads are to be 30 feet tall, 25 feet wide, and more than 200 feet long, which will tie up some roads and intersections.

The current plan is for at least 13 loads to be transported from Barge Point Road, south of Dover Road, to Air Liquide, located off of Boolean Drive near Tylertown Road, according to a press release from City of Clarksville spokesman Jimmy Settle.

Most of these cross-town transports will take four to six hours, but some larger loads will require two days for transport across the city. During some of the shipments, lights and other static structures that might obstruct their paths will need to be disassembled before passage, and then reassembled. These massive transports will be escorted by at least four Tennessee Highway Patrol officers, the release said.

The transport schedule, pending weather and other conditions, includes: Feb. 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25 and 27, and March 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11. Daily start times are expected to be after 8:30 a.m. to avoid the bulk of school traffic.

There are two projects involving the transportation of super loads to the Airgas site. The first is a single load, and the second project is transporting 13 loads with a similar route; however, the difference is that instead of turning right on Dover Road, they’ll turn left.

About the Airgas plant expansion

In August 2023, Air Liquide announced a plan for the expansion that will add 16 jobs paying an average of $95,000 per year, according to previous reports.

Air Liquide is investing around $150 million to expand its production capacity and pipeline network, after signing a long-term contract with LG Chem. Air Liquide said the investment was triggered by LG Chem’s new need for oxygen and will go toward building, owning and operating its second air-separation unit (ASU) at its Airgas production facility in Clarksville, as well as a liquefier, storage and a pipeline. 

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