2017-03372. Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Wrightsville Beach, NC

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the S.R. 74 Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, NC. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the free movement of pedestrians and vehicles during the 8th Annual Wrightsville Beach Marathon. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

DATES:

The deviation is effective from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. on March 25, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2016-1087] 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. Martin Bridges, Bridge Administration Branch Fifth District, Coast Guard, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The event director, Without Limits, with approval from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, who owns and operates the S.R. 74 Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, NC, has requested a temporary deviation from the current operating regulations. This temporary deviation is necessary to accommodate the free movement of pedestrians and vehicles during the 8th Annual Wrightsville Beach Marathon. The bridge is a double bascule bridge and has a vertical clearance in the closed position of 20 feet above mean high water.

The current operating schedule is set out in 33 CFR 117.821(a)(4). Under this temporary deviation, the bridge will remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m., on March 25, 2017. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is used by a variety of vessels including recreational vessels, tug and barge traffic, fishing vessels, and small commercial vessels. The Coast Guard has carefully coordinated the restrictions with waterway users in publishing this temporary deviation.

Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may do so at any time. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and there is no immediate alternate route for vessels unable to pass through the bridge in the closed position. The Coast Guard will also inform the users of the waterway through our Local and Broadcast Notice to Mariners of the change in operating schedule for the bridge so that vessels can arrange their transits to minimize any impacts 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: February 14, 2017.

Hal R. Pitts,

Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.