by Richard Middleton, for the StarPhoenix, March 11, 2011

Neufeld Building Movers transport around 325 buildings each year, but their latest project Wednesday was out of the ordinary.

The house in question, estimated to weigh in at more than 55,000 kilograms, was being moved to a new location at Wapiti, 50 kilometres north of Melfort, from its former spot on Kipabiskau Lake, 60 kilometres south of Melfort.

After being raised from its foundations and supported by two giant steel beams, the entire structure was hauled over a 1.4 kilometre ice road to the opposite shore of the lake.

Ice road specialists had spent the past three weeks strengthening the ice for the move, adding up to 35,000 tons of water each day to thicken it to 47 inches—enough to keep the house, the truck pulling it, and the gear underneath it - which weighed in at 66,000 kilograms - safe and dry.

The three-storey building was then hauled up the bank of the lake and carefully driven to Wapiti, with SaskTel technicians clearing overhead lines and pilot trucks in front and behind keeping passing vehicles clear.

Camera crews and sound technicians were also in attendance, with the move due to be features in an upcoming television series, Massive Moves.

Copyright © The StarPhoenix

This picture and caption were on the front page of Saskatoon's StarPhoenix on Thursday, November 8, 2010.