[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 20573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3783]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-06-040]
RIN 1625-AA-09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Potomac River, Between Maryland 
and Virginia

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.

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SUMMARY: The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has approved a 
temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the 
Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95) Bridge, mile 103.8, across the Potomac 
River between Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, Maryland. This 
deviation allows the drawbridge to remain closed-to-navigation from 8 
p.m. on June 9, 2006, until 5 a.m. on June 12, 2006; and from 8 p.m. on 
July 14, 2006, until 5 a.m. on July 17, 2006, to facilitate the Outer 
and Inner Loop shifts of vehicular traffic for the new Woodrow Wilson 
Bridge construction project.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 8 p.m. on June 9, 2006, until 5 
a.m. on July 17, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Materials referred to in this document are available for 
inspection or copying at Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District, 
Federal Building, 1st Floor, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704-
5004 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The telephone number is (757) 398-6222. Commander (dpb), 
Fifth Coast Guard District maintains the public docket for this 
temporary deviation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Waverly W. Gregory, Jr., Bridge 
Administrator, Fifth Coast Guard District, at (757) 398-6222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The existing Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95) 
Bridge has a vertical clearance in the closed position to vessel of 50 
feet at mean high water and 52 feet at mean low water.
    Coordinators for the construction of the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge 
Project requested a temporary deviation from the current operating 
regulation for the existing Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95) Bridge set 
out in 33 CFR 117.255(a). The coordinators requested the temporary 
deviation to close the existing drawbridge to navigation to accommodate 
the shifting of vehicular traffic on the Outer and Inner Loops of the 
Capital Beltway/I-95 North. The Outer and Inner Loops of the Capital 
Beltway/I-95 North will be reduced from three lanes to only one lane 
between the Route 1 Interchange and the Wilson Bridge. Project traffic 
engineers anticipate traffic impacts to peak on Saturday afternoon, 
with 10 to 15 mile backups and delays of 60 to 90 minutes. Maintaining 
the existing drawbridge in the closed-to-navigation position from 8 
p.m. on Friday, June 9, 2006, through 5 a.m. on Monday, June 12, 2006 
and from 8 p.m. on Friday, July 14, 2006, through 5 a.m. on Monday, 
July 17, 2006, will help reduce the impact to vehicular traffic during 
these phases of new bridge construction.
    The Coast Guard has informed the known users of the waterway of the 
closure period for the bridge so that these vessels can arrange their 
transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary deviation.
    In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(c), this work will be performed 
with all due speed in order to return the bridge to normal operation as 
soon as possible. This deviation from the operating regulations is 
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: April 13, 2006.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Chief, Bridge Administration Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 06-3783 Filed 4-20-06; 8:45 am]
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