80 FR 14844 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Duwamish Waterway, Seattle, WA

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 54 (March 20, 2015)

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the South Park highway bridge across the Duwamish Waterway, mile 3.8, at Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to enable timely completion of drawbridge maintenance. This deviation allows the drawbridge to remain closed to mariners needing a full channel, double bascule leaf drawbridge opening. Vessels that only require a single leaf, half channel drawbridge opening, will be given such an opening upon signal.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14844-14845]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06493]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0171]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Duwamish Waterway, Seattle, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the South Park highway bridge across 
the Duwamish Waterway, mile 3.8, at Seattle, WA. The deviation is 
necessary to enable timely completion of drawbridge maintenance. This 
deviation allows the drawbridge to remain closed to mariners needing a 
full channel, double bascule leaf drawbridge opening. Vessels that only 
require a single leaf, half channel drawbridge opening, will be given 
such an opening upon signal.

DATES: This deviation is effective without actual notice from March 20, 
2015 to 11:59 p.m. on March 28, 2015. For the purposes of enforcement, 
actual notice will be used from 12:01 a.m. on March 17, 2015, until 
March 20, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0171] 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.

[[Page 14845]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Mr. Steven M. Fischer, Thirteenth 
Coast Guard District Bridge Administrator; telephone 206-220-7282, 
email: [email protected]. If you have questions on viewing the 
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The South Park highway bridge is a double 
bascule span drawbridge that requires under bridge maintenance. King 
County Road Services Division requested a deviation to the published 
drawbridge operation schedule to enable timely completion of the 
required bridge maintenance. The South Park highway bridge is located 
in the Duwamish Waterway, mile 3.8, at Seattle, WA, and provides 34.8 
feet of vertical clearance at center span while in the closed position, 
30 feet of vertical clearance at the extreme east and west ends of the 
navigable channel, and unlimited vertical clearance with half of the 
bascule bridge in the fully open position. Vertical clearances are 
referenced to mean high-water elevation (MHW). Horizontal clearance is 
128 feet. However, horizontal clearance may be restricted by 
construction barges.
    The normal operation schedule for the bridge is in 33 CFR 117.1041, 
which specifies that the draws of each bridge across the Duwamish 
Waterway shall open on signal, except the draw of the South Park 
highway bridge, mile 3.8, which need not be opened for the passage of 
vessels from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    The deviation period is effective from 12:01 a.m. on March 17, 2015 
to 11:59 p.m. on March 28, 2015, and allows the drawbridge to remain 
closed to mariners needing a full channel double bascule opening. For 
mariners that only require a single leaf, half channel, drawbridge 
opening, such an opening will be given upon signal. A drawtender will 
be present 24 hours a day, 7 days week. To request a single leaf 
opening, mariners may utilize any of the following methods: (1) Via VHF 
maritime radio; (2) telephone; (3) one prolonged blast followed quickly 
by one short blast and one prolonged blast.
    Waterborne traffic on this stretch of the Duwamish waterway 
consists of vessels ranging from small pleasure craft, sailboats, small 
tribal fishing boats, and commercial tug and tow, and mega yachts. 
Vessels able to pass under the bridge in the closed positions may do so 
at anytime, but are advised to use caution as the area surrounding the 
bridge has numerous construction craft and equipment occupying half of 
the navigational channel. The bridge will be able to open half of the 
bridge for emergencies, and there is no immediate alternate route for 
vessels to pass. The Coast Guard will also inform users of the waterway 
of the change in operating schedule for the bridge through our Local 
and Broadcast Notices to Mariners 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 effective 
period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating 
regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: March 11, 2015.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-06493 Filed 3-19-15; 8:45 am]
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