The oversized equipment will travel on roads from Escanaba to the Marquette Iron Range.

DELTA AND MARQUETTE COUNTIES -- Mining equipment traveling from Escanaba to Marquette County mines will impact portions of central U.P. roads early this Sunday.

Cliffs Natural Resources is working closely with MDOT and local law enforcement to transport the parts to be used for repairs on the rotary pelletizing kilns at the Tilden Mine.  According to a Cliffs press release, the oversized pieces of equipment are as wide as 29 feet in diameter.

Roads used to transport the parts will have to be cleared before the trucks can pass.

"We realize this may be a slight inconvenience for motorists as the vehicles pass through the communities between Escanaba and the mines," said Dale Hemmila for Cliffs Public Affairs.  "However, this is the most expeditious way to move these large pieces to the mine.  We plan to work with MDOT and the law enforcement agencies to minimize the impact on motorists and others."

According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, the three vehicles containing the oversized loads will be moving in a convoy escorted by Delta and Marquette County Sheriff Departments.

They are scheduled to leave Basic Marine in Escanaba at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday by route of Second Avenue, 10th Street and Third Avenue before turning north onto US-2/US-41.  From there, the convoy will turn north on M-35 in Gladstone and then north on M-553 in Gwinn shortly after 7:00.  They will then head west on CR 480 and then again onto M-35 headed south to the mine.  Check below for the estimated times.

In addition, other passages will be closed as the heavy wide loads pass.  Those include the Escanaba River bridge and the M-553 bridge over the railroad near Sawyer.

Officials with MDOT urge motorists to avoid these areas during these times if possible.

Click here for the latest on this and other lane closures around Michigan.