2015-21519. Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lake Washington Ship Canal, Seattle, WA

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 Montlake Bridge across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate vehicular traffic attending football games at Husky Stadium at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position two and a half hours before and two and a half hours after each game. The game times for five of the seven games scheduled for Husky Stadium have not yet been determined due to NCAA television scheduling.

DATES:

This deviation is effective from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on September 12, 2015; 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on September 19, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2015-0815] 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 Steven M. Fischer, Thirteenth Coast Guard District Bridge Program Administrator, 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 Washington State Department of Transportation, on behalf of the University of Washington Police Department, has requested that the Montlake Bridge bascule span remain in the closed-to-navigation position, and need not open to vessel traffic to facilitate timely movement of pre-game and post game football traffic at Husky Stadium at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. The Montlake Bridge crosses the Lake Washington Ship Canal at mile 5.2; and while in the closed-to-navigation position provides 30 feet of vertical clearance throughout the navigation channel and 46 feet of vertical clearance throughout the center 60-feet of the bridge. These vertical clearance measurements are made in reference to the Mean Water Level of Lake Washington. The normal operating schedule for Montlake Bridge operates in accordance with 33 CFR 117.1051(e), which requires the bridge to open on signal, except that the bridge need not open for vessels less than 1,000 gross tons between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The deviation period will cover the following dates. From 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on September 12, 2015; from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on September 19, 2015. The times for the closures on September 26, 2015, October 17, 2015, October 31, 2015, November 7, 2015, and November 27, 2015 will be determined, and announced in the Coast Guard's Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notice to Mariners as they become available. Due to NCAA television scheduling, the times for the games are not currently available. The bridge shall operate in accordance to 33 CFR 117.1051(e) at all other times. Waterway usage on the Lake Washington Ship Canal ranges from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft.

Vessels able to pass through the bridge in the closed-to-navigation position may do so at anytime. The bridge 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 waterway 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 drawbridges 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: August 26, 2015.

Steven M. Fischer,

Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.