Drawbridge Operation Regulation; North Landing River, Chesapeake, VA

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 S165 (North Landing Road) Bridge across the North Landing River, mile 20.2, at Chesapeake, VA. This deviation is necessary to perform emergency bridge repairs. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

DATES:

This deviation is effective without actual notice from March 11, 2016 through 6 p.m. on June 30, 2016. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be used from March 8, 2016 at 8:45 a.m., until March 11, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2016-0181] 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this temporary deviation, call or email Mr. Hal R. Pitts, Bridge Administration Branch Fifth District, Coast Guard, telephone 757-398-6222, email Hal.R.Pitts@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The United States Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District Office, that owns and operates the S165 (North Landing Road) Bridge, has requested a temporary deviation from the current operating regulations to perform emergency repairs to the south swing span of the bridge due to damage sustained as a result of a vessel allision with the bridge. The bridge is a double swing draw bridge and has a vertical clearance in the closed position of 6 feet above mean high water.

The current operating schedule is set out in 33 CFR 117.1021. Under this temporary deviation, the north span of the bridge will open-to-navigation on the hour and half hour, upon request, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on demand from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. The North and South spans of the bridge will open to navigation concurrently, with the south span only opening partially due to damage, upon request, for scheduled openings at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. The horizontal clearance of the bridge with the south span closed-to-navigation is 38 feet and the horizontal clearance of the bridge with the south span partially open-to-navigation is 70 feet.

The North Landing River is used by a variety of vessels including small U. S. government and public vessels, small commercial vessels, tug and barge, and recreational vessels. The Coast Guard has carefully considered the nature and volume of vessel traffic on the waterway in publishing this temporary deviation.

During the closure times there will be limited opportunity for vessels able to safely pass through the bridge in the closed position to do so. Vessels able to safely pass through the bridge in the closed position may do so, after receiving confirmation from the bridge tender that it is safe to transit through the bridge. The north span of the bridge will be able to open for emergencies. 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 vessel operators can arrange their transit 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 effective period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.