2016-25183. Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), Wrightsville Beach, NC and Northeast Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedules that govern the S.R. 74 (Wrightsville Beach) Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, NC and the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge across the Northeast Cape Fear River, mile 1.0, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation is necessary to facilitate the 2016 PPD IRONMAN North Carolina “Beach2Battleship” Triathlon. This deviation allows these bridges to remain in their closed-to-navigation position.

DATES:

The deviation is effective from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 22, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2016-0610] 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 Mr. Michael Thorogood, Bridge Administration Branch Fifth District, Coast Guard, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

PPD Ironman North Carolina, on behalf of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, who owns the S.R. 74 (Wrightsville Beach) Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, NC and the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge across the Northeast Cape Fear River, mile 1.0, at Wilmington, NC, has requested a temporary deviation from the current operating regulations set out in 33 CFR 117.821(a)(4) and 33 CFR 117.829(a), respectively, to ensure the safety of the participants and spectators associated with the 2016 PPD IRONMAN North Carolina “Beach2Battleship” Triathlon.

Under this temporary deviation, the S.R. 74 (Wrightsville Beach) Bridge will be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on October 22, 2016, and the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge will be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 22, 2016. These bridges are both double bascule drawbridges and have vertical clearances in the closed-to-navigation position of 20 feet and 40 feet, respectively, above mean high water.

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is used by a variety of vessels including, small commercial fishing vessels and recreational vessels. The Northeast Cape Fear River is used by a variety of vessels including, small commercial fishing vessels, recreational vessels, and tug and barge traffic. The Coast Guard has carefully coordinated the restrictions with waterway users in publishing this temporary deviation.

Vessels able to pass through these bridges in their closed positions may do so at any time. These bridges will be able to open for emergencies and there are no immediate alternative routes for vessels to pass. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterway through our Local and Broadcast Notices to Mariners of the change in operating schedules for these bridges so that vessel operators can arrange their transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary deviation.

In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), these drawbridges must return to their regular operating schedules immediately at the end of the effective periods of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

Dated: October 13, 2016.

Hal R. Pitts,

Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.