SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The New Jersey Transit, who owns and operates the NJ Transit Railroad Bridge across the Shark River, mile 0.9, at Avon, NJ, has requested a temporary deviation from the current operating regulation set out in 33 CFR 117.751, to facilitate replacement of the drive motor on the vertical span of the bridge.

Under this temporary deviation, the bridge will remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 10 p.m., March 24, 2017, to 6 a.m., March 25, 2017. The drawbridge is a single span which has a vertical clearance in the closed-to-navigation position of 9 feet above mean high water.

The NJ Transit Railroad Bridge is used by recreational vessels, tug and barge traffic, fishing vessels, and small commercial vessels. The Coast Guard has carefully considered the nature and volume of vessel traffic on the waterway in publishing this temporary deviation.

Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may do so at anytime. The bridge span will not be able to open in case of an emergency and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to pass. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterway through our Local Notice 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.

82 FR 14607