2018-12287. Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Hutchinson River, New York, NY

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 Hutchinson River Parkway Bridge across the Hutchinson River, mile 0.9 at New York, New York. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to facilitate structural repairs.

DATES:

This deviation is effective from 12:01 a.m. on July 16, 2018 to 11:59 p.m. on September 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, USCG-2018-0440 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 Judy Leung-Yee, Bridge Management Specialist, First District Bridge Branch, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The New York City Department of Transportation, the bridge owner, requested a temporary deviation from the normal operating schedule to facilitate structural repairs. The Hutchinson River Parkway Bridge, across the Hutchinson River, mile 0.9 at New York, New York has a vertical clearance of 30 feet at mean high water and 38 feet at mean low water in the closed position. The existing drawbridge operating regulations are listed at 33 CFR 117.793(b).

Under this temporary deviation, from 12:01 a.m. on July 16, 2018 to 11:59 p.m. on September 16, 2018 the draw of the Hutchinson River Parkway Bridge will be closed to navigation for a period not to exceed 14 days; the draw will then open for vessels in accordance with established operating regulations for a period not to exceed another 7 days, after which the cycle will repeat.

The waterway is transited by commercial and recreational traffic. The bridge owner notified known commercial vessel operators that transit the waterway and there were no objections to this temporary deviation. Vessels able to pass under the bridge in the closed position may do so at any time. The bridge will not 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 bridge 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 effective period of this temporary deviation. This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

Dated: May 24, 2018.

C.J. Bisignano,

Supervisory Bridge Management Specialist, First Coast Guard District.