B-1 bomber
Boeing is transporting the fuselage of a B-1 bomber from Portland International Airport to their new testing facility at Boeing Field this weekend. (Boeing.com)

Look for Boeing's B-1 bomber on I-5 this weekend

BY Kim Shepard  on September 7, 2012 @ 8:26 am (Updated: 1:57 pm - 9/7/12 )

If you're out late on I-5 south of Seattle this weekend, you might encounter a major obstacle. Boeing is transporting the fuselage of a B-1 bomber from Portland International Airport to their new testing facility at Boeing Field.

Boeing's spokeswoman Jennifer Hogan said it's much safer to drive it up I-5 than fly.

"We didn't want to do the test on an in-service aircraft. We wanted to one that was already retired. Some of those haven't been flown in a long time."

Hogan said the fuselage will take up two and half lanes completely blocking traffic on parts of I-5 as it travels slowly north.

The fuselage leaves Portland about 11:30 p.m. Friday. Traveling about 30 mph, it's expected in the Olympia area by 6 a.m. Saturday. It's scheduled to leave Olympia at 2:30 a.m. Sunday and reach Boeing Field by 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

The drivers have identified several spots along the route where they can pull over if there is a long backup.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kim Shepard, KIRO Radio Reporter
Kim Shepard is a news anchor and reporter for KIRO Radio and the office optimist. She's energetic, quick to laugh and has a positive outlook on life.
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Comments (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • shark75 wrote...
    Too bad it won't be travelling all the way through Seattle
    September 7, 2012 12:59 pm
    Would be fun to see all these Seattle liberals go ballistic over an “instrument of death” being pulled through their beloved city.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    throw some wings on the sucker and fly it.
    September 7, 2012 3:32 pm
    they got our money.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Your Dear Leader
    September 7, 2012 5:48 pm
    got a LOT more!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Kosh wrote...
    CH
    September 7, 2012 6:45 pm
    What do you mean OUR money? Get a job and start paying taxes first before you go saying OUR money again.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    What do you mean OUR money? you make [taxes] . . . .
    September 7, 2012 6:54 pm
    I spend it on the first[welfare $$$$].
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rotary Engine 101 wrote...
    hahahaha
    September 7, 2012 8:01 pm
    For some that puts in way too many hours in each week I cant help but to laugh.. I go to Work because millions on Welfare depend on me..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tuleman003 wrote...
    CH, proud of that, are you?
    September 8, 2012 7:15 am
    Being part of the reason our country is in the state it is.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tuleman003 wrote...
    How much do you wanna bet?
    September 8, 2012 7:12 am
    On whether Boeing had to pay for a permit to block I-5 for nearly two days.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }