Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lake Washington Ship Canal, Seattle, WA

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Washington State Department of Transportation Montlake Bridge across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the University of Washington, and University of Washington Bothell commencement ceremony traffic. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to accommodate the timely movement of vehicular traffic.

DATES:

This deviation is effective from 9:30 a.m. on June 13, 2015 to 6:15 p.m. on June 14, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0464] is available at http://www.regulations.gov. Type the docket number in the “SEARCH” box and click “SEARCH.” Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with this deviation. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this temporary deviation, call or email Mr. Steven Fischer, Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District; telephone 206-220-7282, email d13-pf-d13bridges@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The University of Washington, through the Washington Department of Transportation, has requested that the Montlake Bridge bascule span remain closed-to-navigation position, and need not open to vessel traffic to facilitate timely movement of commencement vehicular traffic.

The Montlake Bridge across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, at mile 5.2, in the closed position provides 30 feet of vertical clearance throughout the navigation channel, and 46 feet of vertical clearance throughout the center 60-feet of the bridge; vertical clearance references to the Mean Water Level of Lake Washington.

The normal operating schedule for Montlake Bridge operates in accordance with 33 CFR 117.1051(e) which requires the bridge to open on signal, except that the bridge need not open for vessels less than 1,000 gross tons between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The deviation period is from 9:30 a.m. on June 13, 2015 to 6:15 p.m. on June 14, 2015. The deviation allows the bascule span of the Montlake Bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on June 13, 2015, and from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on June 14, 2015. Waterway usage on the Lake Washington Ship Canal ranges from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft.

Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed-to-navigation position may do so at any time. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to pass. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterways through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in operating schedule for the bridge so that vessels can arrange their transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary deviation.

In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the drawbridge must return to its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the designated time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.