Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Potomac River, Between Maryland and Virginia, 38524 [E6-10590]
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38524
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 130 / Friday, July 7, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD05–06–071]
RIN 1625–AA–09
Drawbridge Operation Regulations;
Potomac River, Between Maryland and
Virginia
Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation
from regulations.
AGENCY:
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 June 26,
2006 until and including August 25,
2006, to facilitate completion of the
Outer Loop portion for the new
Woodrow Wilson Bridge construction
project.
DATES: This deviation is effective from
10 a.m. on June 26, 2006, until 2 p.m.
on August 25, 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: On June
11, 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 bridge will be required to
open for vessels in accordance with the
current drawbridge operating
regulations set out in 33 CFR 117.255(c).
While the drawbridge is operational,
coordinators for the construction of the
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:33 Jul 06, 2006
Jkt 208001
new Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project
indicated that the bascule span is not
yet fully commissioned and the work
continues through the rigorous testing
phase. 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(c).
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(c). 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, June 26 through
August 25, 2006 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 as the
existing drawbridge is able to open in
accordance with the current operating
regulations set out in 33 CFR 117.255(a).
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(c).
Maintaining the existing drawbridge in
the closed-to-navigation position each
day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning on
June 26, 2006 through August 25, 2006
will help reduce the impact to vehicular
traffic during this phase 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.
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Dated: June 23, 2006.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Chief, Bridge Administration Branch, Fifth
Coast Guard District .
[FR Doc. E6–10590 Filed 7–6–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD05–06–070]
RIN 1625–AA09
Drawbridge Operation Regulations;
Potomac River, Between Maryland and
Virginia
Coast Guard, DHS.
Temporary final rule.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is issuing
temporary regulations that govern 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 temporary final rule
establishes the same operating
requirements for the new drawbridge
that is currently in effect for the
existing-to-be-removed drawbridge.
DATES: This rule is effective midnight on
June 20, 2006 to 11:59 on June 12, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Documents, indicated in
this preamble as being available in the
docket, are part of docket CGD05–06–
070 and 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
Fifth Coast Guard District maintains the
public docket for this rulemaking.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr., Bridge
Administrator, Fifth Coast Guard
District, at (757) 398–6222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Good Cause for Not Publishing an
NPRM
We did not publish a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this
regulation. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the
Coast Guard finds that good cause exists
for not publishing an NPRM. This
temporary final rule establishes the
same operating requirements for the
new drawbridge that is currently in
effect for the existing-to-be-removed
drawbridge.
E:\FR\FM\07JYR1.SGM
07JYR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 130 (Friday, July 7, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10590]
[[Page 38524]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD05-06-071]
RIN 1625-AA-09
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Potomac River, Between Maryland
and Virginia
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 June 26, 2006 until and
including August 25, 2006, to facilitate completion of the Outer Loop
portion for the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge construction project.
DATES: This deviation is effective from 10 a.m. on June 26, 2006, until
2 p.m. on August 25, 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: On June 11, 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 bridge will be required to open for
vessels in accordance with the current drawbridge operating regulations
set out in 33 CFR 117.255(c).
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 the work continues
through the rigorous testing phase. 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(c).
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(c). 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, June 26 through August 25, 2006 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 as the existing
drawbridge is able to open in accordance with the current operating
regulations set out in 33 CFR 117.255(a). 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(c). Maintaining the
existing drawbridge in the closed-to-navigation position each day from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning on June 26, 2006 through August 25, 2006
will help reduce the impact to vehicular traffic during this phase 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: June 23, 2006.
Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,
Chief, Bridge Administration Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District .
[FR Doc. E6-10590 Filed 7-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P
