[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 20, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 92663-92664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30572]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2016-1049]


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Pearl River, LA/MS

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulations.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the operation of the US 90 highway 
bridge (East Pearl

[[Page 92664]]

River Bridge), a swing span bridge across the Pearl River, mile 8.8, 
between Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana and Pearlington, Hancock 
County, Mississippi. The deviation is necessary to remove and repair 
three gear motors to allow for the continued safe operation of the 
bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-
navigation position for a period of 32 days, broken in to one 12-Day 
Period and two 10-Day periods, as repairs to each motor will be done 
separately.

DATES: This deviation is effective from 6 a.m. on Thursday January 19, 
2017, through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2016-1049] is available 
at http://www.regulations.gov. Type the docket number in the ``SEARCH'' 
box and click ``SEARCH''. Click on Open Docket Folder on the line 
associated with this deviation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary deviation, call or email Donna Gagliano, Bridge 
Administration Branch, Coast Guard, telephone (504) 671-2128, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Boh Bros. Construction Company, on behalf of 
the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, requested a 
temporary deviation from the operating schedule for the swing span 
bridge across the Pearl River, mile 8.8, between Slidell, St. Tammany 
Parish, Louisiana and Pearlington, Hancock County, Mississippi. The 
deviation was requested to accommodate necessary repairs to the swing 
span operation due to the complexity of the work requiring rewiring. 
The draw currently operates under 33 CFR 117.486(b).
    For purposes of this deviation, the bridge over the Pearl River 
will be closed to marine traffic for three extended periods of time 
from Thursday, January 19, 2017, through Tuesday, March 21, 2017. This 
deviation allows the bridge to remain closed-to-navigation for the 
duration of these Phases.
    Phase I: A 12-day closure from 6 a.m. on January 19, 2017 through 5 
p.m. on January 30, 2017. Phase II: A 10-day closure from 6 a.m. on 
February 9, 2017 through 5 p.m. on February 18, 2017. Phase III: A 10-
day closure from 6 a.m. on March 12, 2017 through 5 p.m. on March 21, 
2017. During all Three Phases, the work requires the removal of gear 
motors #1, #2, and #3, delivery to machine shop to replace bearings and 
seals, sandblasting and painting, removal of motor armature from input 
shaft, cutting and broaching of the shafts, and repairing damaged 
conduit and wiring from the control house to span junction box. Due to 
the complexity of the work, it will require rewiring of electrical 
components and conducting testing and troubleshooting of the bridge to 
safely continue operation of the bridge.
    Any vessel with a vertical clearance requirement of less than 10 
feet above mean high water in the closed-to-navigation position may 
pass beneath the bridge at any time. Navigation on the waterway 
consists of small tugs with and without tows, commercial vessels, and 
recreational craft, including sailboats.
    The bridge will not be able to open for emergencies, and there is 
no alternate route. LDOTD has coordinated these closing with the 
Stennis Space Center and other waterway users. 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 
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.

    Dated: December 14, 2016.
David M. Frank,
Bridge Administrator, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2016-30572 Filed 12-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P