[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 24, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40239-40240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14261]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-07-074]
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 
new Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95) Bridge, mile 103.8, across Potomac 
River between Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, Maryland. This 
deviation allows the new drawbridge to remain closed-to-navigation each 
day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning on July 23, 2007 until and 
including January 25, 2008, to facilitate testing and commissioning for 
the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge construction project.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 10 a.m. on July 23, 2007, until 
2 p.m. on January 25, 2008.

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.

[[Page 40240]]


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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In June 2006, the southernmost portion of 
the bascule spans for the new Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, at mile 
103.8, across Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, 
Maryland was publicly placed into service, switching I-95 Northbound 
traffic onto the new Outer Loop portion of the bridge. The newly-
constructed portion of the bridge will be required to open for vessels 
in accordance with the current drawbridge operating regulations set out 
in 33 CFR 117.255(a).
    While the drawbridge is operational, coordinators for the 
construction of the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project indicated that 
the bascule span is not yet fully commissioned and cannot run at full 
speed, resulting in extended Interstate 95/495 traffic stoppages during 
openings. Opening the new bascule span for a vessel at this time would 
take approximately 45 minutes in a best case scenario. This has the 
potential to have a significant impact upon I-95 traffic, especially 
during the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. bridge-opening time frame currently 
available for commercial vessels, in accordance with 33 CFR 117.255(a).
    Coordinators requested a temporary deviation from the current 
operating regulation for the new Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95) Bridge 
set out in 33 CFR 117.255(a).
    Though good progress has been made regarding commissioning of the 
north and south drawbridges (both now carrying I-95 vehicle traffic), 
the coordinators are requesting an additional six months of the 10 a.m. 
to 2 p.m. restriction of bridge operation to proceed with commissioning 
activities through January 25, 2008. From a river-user standpoint, the 
coordinators have received no requests from boaters or mariners to open 
during the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. timeframe since the restriction was issued 
in late June 2006. In fact, the coordinators have received no 
complaints on the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. restriction.
    The coordinators requested that the new Outer Loop portion of the 
new drawbridge not be available for openings for vessels each day 
between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Monday, July 23, 2007 
through Friday, January 25, 2008, or until the bridge is properly 
commissioned, whichever comes first. The temporary deviation will only 
affect vessels with mast heights of 75 feet or greater. Management of 
the Federal and auxiliary channels will continue to be closely 
coordinated between the coordinators for the construction of the new 
Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, the Coast Guard and vessels requesting 
transit through the construction zone. Furthermore, all affected 
vessels with mast heights greater than 75 feet will be able to receive 
an opening of the new drawbridge in the ``off-peak'' vehicle traffic 
hours (evening and overnight) in accordance with 33 CFR 117.255(a). 
Maintaining the new drawbridge in the closed-to-navigation position 
each day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 23, 2007 through January 25, 
2008, will help reduce the impact to vehicular traffic during this 
phase of the 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.
    This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 
33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: July 16, 2007.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Chief, Bridge Administration Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. E7-14261 Filed 7-23-07; 8:45 am]
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