2015-19770. Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Trent River, New Bern, 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 US 70/Alfred C. Cunningham Bridge across the Trent River, mile 0.0, at New Bern, NC. The deviation is necessary to allow the participants of the annual Neuse River Historic New Bern Bike Ride (a two day event) to safely complete their ride without interruptions from bridge openings. This deviation allows the bridge draw span to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for one and a half hours each day to accommodate the race.

DATES:

This deviation is effective from 8 a.m. September 12, 2015 to 9:30 a.m. on September 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0740] 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. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this temporary deviation, call or email Mr. Jim Rousseau, Coast Guard; telephone [phone], email [e-mail]. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The event coordinator for the annual Neuse River Historic New Bern Bike Ride, with approval from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, owner of the drawbridge, has requested a temporary deviation from the operating schedule to accommodate the Neuse River Bridge Historic New Bern Bike Ride.

The US 70/Alfred C. Cunningham Bridge operating regulations are set out in 33 CFR 117.843(a). The US 70/Alfred C. Cunningham Bridge across the Trent River, mile 0.0, a double bascule lift Bridge, in New Bern, NC, has a vertical clearance in the closed position of 14 feet above mean high water.

Under this temporary deviation, the drawbridge will be allowed to remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. each day on Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13, 2015 while cyclists are participating in the annual Neuse River Bridge Historic New Bern Bike Ride.

Under the regular operating schedule the bridge opens on signal several times a day for recreational vessels transiting to and from the local marinas upstream. During the timeframe for the race the morning hours have shown the fewest recorded vessel transits.

Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed position may do so at any time and are advised to proceed with caution. The bridge will be able to open for emergencies and there is no 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 vessels 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: August 6, 2015.

Hal R. Pitts,

Bridge Program Manager, Fifth Coast Guard District.