2016-11381. Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Willamette River, Portland, OR

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 upper deck of the Steel Bridge, mile 12.1, and the Burnside Bridge, mile 12.4, both crossing the Willamette River, at Portland, OR. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the annual Rose Festival Parade event, which crosses the Steel Bridge and Burnside Bridge. This deviation allows the upper deck of the Steel Bridge and Burnside Bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position and need not open for marine traffic to allow for the safe movement of event participants.

DATES:

This deviation is effective from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 11, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2016-0380] 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. Steven Fischer, Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District; telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

TriMet Public Transit and Multnomah County have requested that the upper deck of the Steel Bridge and the Burnside Bridge remain in the closed-to-navigation position to accommodate the annual Rose Festival Parade event. The Steel Bridge, mile 12.1, and the Burnside Bridge, mile 12.4, both cross the Willamette River.

The Steel Bridge is a double-deck lift bridge with a lower lift deck and an upper lift deck which operate independent of each other. When both decks are in the down position the bridge provides 26 feet of vertical clearance. When the lower deck is in the up position, the bridge provides 71 feet of vertical clearance. This deviation does not affect the operating schedule of the lower deck which opens on signal. The normal operating schedule for the upper deck of the Steel Bridge operates in accordance with 33 CFR 117.897(c)(3)(ii).

The Burnside Bridge provides a vertical clearance of 64 feet in the closed-to-navigation position. The normal operating schedule for the Burnside Bridge operates in accordance with 33 CFR 117.897(c)(3)(iii). The Steel Bridge and Burnside Bridge clearances are above Columbia River Datum 0.0.

The deviation period is from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 11, 2016 to accommodate the route of the annual Rose Festival Parade event. The deviation allows the upper deck of the Steel Bridge, mile 12.1, and the Burnside Bridge, mile 12.4, both crossing the Willamette River, to remain in the closed-to-navigation position and need not open for maritime traffic from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 11, 2016. Waterway usage on this part of the Willamette River includes vessels ranging from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft.

Vessels able to pass through the Steel Bridge and Burnside Bridge in the closed positions may do so at any time. The bridges will 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 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), the drawbridge must return to its regular operating schedule immediately at the end of the designated time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

Dated: May 9, 2016.

Steven M. Fischer,

Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard.