80 FR 79260 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Wrightsville Beach, NC

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 244 (December 21, 2015)

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 74 Bascule Bridge, across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, NC. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the 7th annual Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position during the race to facilitate the safe travels of the runners and bystanders.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 244 (Monday, December 21, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 79260-79261]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31938]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2015-1064]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, 
Wrightsville Beach, NC

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 SR 74 Bascule Bridge, across the 
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), mile 283.1, at Wrightsville 
Beach, NC. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the 7th annual 
Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon. This deviation allows the bridge 
to remain in the closed position during the race to facilitate the safe 
travels of the runners and bystanders.

[[Page 79261]]


DATES: This deviation is effective from 5 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, 
March 20, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-1064] 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 Kashanda Booker, Bridge 
Administration Branch, Fifth Coast Guard; telephone 757-398-6227, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 7th Annual Quintiles Wrightsville Beach 
Marathon committee on behalf of the North Carolina Department of 
Transportation (NCDOT) has requested a temporary deviation from the 
current operating schedule for the SR 74 Bascule Drawbridge across the 
AIWW, mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, NC. The requested deviation 
will accommodate the 7th Annual Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon 
scheduled for Sunday, March 20, 2016. To facilitate this event, the 
draw of the bridge will be maintained in the closed-to-navigation 
position from 5 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to allow race participants to cross 
during the scheduled event.
    The current operation schedule is set out in 33 CFR 117.821(a)(4). 
The regulation requires the bridge to open on signal for vessels at all 
times except that from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. the bridge shall open on the 
hour; every third and fourth Saturday in September the bridge shall 
remain closed from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m.; and the last Saturday of 
October or the first or second Saturday of November the bridge shall 
remain closed from 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. The bascule drawbridge has a 
vertical clearance of 20 feet above mean high water (MHW) in the closed 
position.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may 
do so at anytime. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and 
there is no immediate alternate route for vessels. Most waterway 
traffic consists of recreational boats with a few barges and tugs 
during the daytime. 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 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: December 15, 2015.
Hal R. Pitts,
Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-31938 Filed 12-18-15; 8:45 am]
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