[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 206 (Monday, October 26, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65137-65138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27131]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[USCG-2015-0964]


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Tchefuncta River, Madisonville, 
LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from regulations.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the SR 22 Bridge over the Tchefuncta 
River, mile 2.5, at Madisonville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. This 
deviation is necessary to complete scheduled maintenance of the bridge. 
This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation for 
approximately six weeks while allowing for two scheduled openings on 
scheduled work days except for a five-day period and a 36-hour period, 
both in December, when there will be complete closures. The bridge will 
operate normally on non-scheduled work days and on weekends.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 7 a.m. on November 2, 2015 
until 7 p.m. on December 15, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0964] is available 
at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Jim Wetherington, D8 Bridge 
Administration Branch, Coast Guard; telephone 504-671-2128, email 
[email protected].

[[Page 65138]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coastal Bridge Company, LLC, on behalf of 
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LDOTD), 
requested a deviation from the operating regulation for the SR 22 
Bridge across the Tchefuncta River, mile 2.5, at Madisonville, St. 
Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The SR 22 Bridge is a swing bridge with a 
vertical clearance of 6.2 feet above Mean High Water (MHW) in the 
closed-to-navigation position and unlimited clearance in the open-to-
navigation position. The operation of this bridge is currently governed 
by 33 CFR 117.500.
    The closure is necessary for mechanical and electrical 
rehabilitation of the bridge. The deviation from the operating 
regulations will be in effect from Monday, November 2, 2015 until 
Tuesday, December 15, 2015, except for weekends. Within this time frame 
there will be multiple closure periods, deviating from the regular 
operating schedule, as follows:
    (1) The first closure period will be from 7 a.m. on November 9th, 
until 7 p.m. on November 13th, 2015, except that the bridge will open 
at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., daily, to pass all vessel traffic;
    (2) The second closure period will be from 7 a.m. on November 16th 
until 9 p.m. on November 17th except that the bridge will open at 9 
a.m. and 7 p.m., daily, to pass all vessel traffic;
    (3) The third closure period will be from 7 a.m. on November 23rd 
until 9 p.m. on November 24th except that the bridge will open at 9 
a.m. and 7 p.m., daily, to pass all vessel traffic;
    (4) The fourth closure period will be a total closure from 7 a.m. 
on November 30th until 7 p.m. on December 4th; there will be no 
openings during this period;
    (5) The fifth and final closure period will be a total closure from 
9 a.m. on December 14th until 7 p.m. on December 15th; there will be no 
openings during this period. All work is expected to be completed by 7 
p.m. on Tuesday, December 15, 2015.
    Any changes to the scheduled closure times will be announced 
through the Local Notice to Mariners or through a broadcast. The 
traffic on the Tchefuncta River is primarily recreational with minimal 
commercial traffic. The contractor approached each marina and business 
that could possibly be impacted and forwarded them a copy of the work 
schedule. No negative comments were noted.
    Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed-to-navigation 
position may do so at anytime. The bridge will not be able to open for 
emergencies and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels to 
pass. 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 vessels 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 designated 
time periods. This deviation from the operating regulations is 
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

    Dated: October 20, 2015.
David M. Frank,
Bridge Administrator, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-27131 Filed 10-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P