POST FALLS - Overspill from the megaloads controversy could travel through Kootenai County on Interstate 90.

Imperial Oil/ExxonMobile Spokesman Pius Rolheiser said that alternative interstate routes to U.S. 12 through central Idaho are being considered for 33 loads of equipment headed for an oil sands project in Alberta, Canada.

While Rolheiser said the specific route hasn't been determined, Interstate 90 is one of the few major highways from North Idaho into Montana.

He said the size of the 33 modules stranded at the Port of Lewiston is being downsized due to delays in getting the oversized permits from both Idaho and Montana and in hopes of mitigating further schedule and cost exposure to the construction site.

Rolheiser said U.S. 12 remains the preferred route, but Imperial/Exxon is applying for permits for alternative routes as the loads, even reduced, would still be oversized under state standards.

Some residents along U.S. 12 said the loads will hurt tourism, delay emergency responders, dam the scenic byway and damage roads, setting up a long legal fight and delaying the loads.

"(The downsizing) will increase the total number of permitted loads from 33 to about 60," Rolheiser said.

He said he doesn't know when a decision will be made on an alternative route. If an alternative route is needed, Rolheiser said the permits will be for similar oversized loads such as agriculture equipment, grain silos and turbine blades commonly seen along I-90.

Rolheiser said about 60 of the 205 megaloads of Korean-manufactured equipment can travel via interstate, which would reduce the number traveling via the two-lane U.S. 12 into Montana at Lolo Pass.

Some North Idaho legislators have no issues with the loads coming on I-90.

"I support any efforts to enhance our access to more North American oil," said Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls. "This support would include bringing the megaloads through our area."

Hammond said he has toured the oil sands project in northern Alberta and found the operations to be eco-friendly in both the mining and reclamation efforts.

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, said in an e-mail that if the same care and oversight is taken by the Idaho Transportation Department that is occurring with U.S. 12, she's comfortable with moving loads anywhere in the state.

"The loads provide economic return to Idaho and thus to our communities with fuel, personnel, lodging and other costs," she said. "The loads also provide support to the companies that provide the fuel we use every day in our motor vehicles and other aspects of our lives and lessen our dependence on foreign oil."

Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, said impeding transportation hurts North Idaho's economic viability.

"We can't have that," he said.

Eskridge believes the controversy goes beyond transportation issues, however.

"It's opposition against the oil sands project," he said. "And I believe some people want to diminish the importance of the port to breach the lower Snake River dams. I hope that I'm not too paranoid, but that's what I'm reading into it."

The Idaho Transportation Department on Monday issued a permit for Imperial/Exxon to transport an oversized test load on U.S. 12 starting Tuesday. The permit, which will assist Imperial/Exxon in validating planning for potential future loads, is for a load that's 24 feet wide, 30 feet high, 208 feet long and about 508,000 pounds.

State lawmakers on Monday rejected a proposal calling for more public input on the shipment of oversized loads on Idaho highways.

Four ConocoPhillips oversized loads were also contested. However, the first Conoco load arrived in Montana early Saturday. Transport of the second is expected to begin this week. The loads are headed to Billings.