[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67055-67056]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25413]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD07-04-136]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Broward County Bridges, 
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Broward County, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, has approved a 
temporary deviation from the

[[Page 67056]]

regulations governing the operation of the Broward County bridges 
across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Broward County, Florida. 
This temporary deviation allows the Coast Guard to test an operating 
schedule with the bridges opening twice an hour. It will allow the 
Coast Guard to gather data to determine if this schedule meets the 
reasonable needs of navigation while accommodating an increase in 
vehicle traffic throughout the county and whether it should be proposed 
as a permanent change.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. on December 1, 2004, 
until 8 p.m. on February 28, 2005. Comments must reach the Coast Guard 
on or before March 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments and related material to Commander 
(obr), Seventh Coast Guard District, 909 SE. 1st Avenue, Room 432, 
Miami, FL 33131. Comments and material received from the public, as 
well as comments indicated in this preamble as being available in the 
docket, are part of docket [CGD07-04-136] and are available for 
inspection or copying at Commander (obr), Seventh Coast Guard District, 
909 SE. 1st Avenue, Room 432, Miami, FL 33131 between 8 a.m. and 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Barry Dragon, Project Manager, 
Seventh Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch at (305) 415-6743.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to comment on this test schedule by submitting 
comments and related material. If you do so, please include your name 
and address, identify the docket number for this notice [CGD07-04-136], 
indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment 
applies, and give the reason for each comment. Please submit all 
comments and related material in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/
2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying. If you would like to know they 
reached us, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or 
envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during 
the comment period.

Discussion of the Test Schedule

    This test schedule has been requested by various public officials 
within the County of Broward to ease vehicular traffic, which has 
overburdened roadways, and to standardize bridge openings for vessel 
traffic. This test will allow the bridges in Broward County to operate 
on a standardized schedule, which will meet the reasonable needs of 
navigation and improve the vehicular traffic. The schedules will be 
staggered in order to facilitate the movement of vessels from bridge to 
bridge along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
    The existing regulations governing the operation of the County 
bridges are published in 33 CFR 117.5 and 117.261. This temporary 
deviation includes all bridges across the Atlantic Intracoastal 
Waterway in Broward County. During the deviation period, from 6 a.m. on 
December 1, 2004, until 8 p.m. on February 28, 2005, the bridges will 
operate as follows:
    Open on the Hour and Half Hour: Atlantic Boulevard, mile 1056.0, 
Commercial Boulevard, mile 1059.0, East Sunrise Boulevard, mile 1062.6, 
SE. 17th Street Causeway, mile 1065.9, Dania Beach Boulevard, mile 
1069.4, Hollywood Boulevard, mile 1072.2.
    Open on the Quarter Hour and Three-Quarter Hour: NE. 14th Street, 
mile 1055.0, Oakland Park Boulevard, mile 1060.5, East Las Olas 
Boulevard, mile 1064.0, Sheridan Street, mile 1070.5, Hallandale Beach 
Boulevard, mile 1074.0.
    If at any time during this test deviation it is determined that the 
test schedule poses any safety concerns at any location, this test 
deviation may be withdrawn.
    The District Commander has granted a test deviation from the 
operating regulations listed in 33 CFR 117.5 and 117.261 to evaluate 
the effectiveness of these new schedules on vehicular and vessel 
traffic.

    Dated: November 4, 2004.
Greg E. Shapley,
Chief, Bridge Administration, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 04-25413 Filed 11-15-04; 8:45 am]
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