05-15619. Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Potomac River, Between Alexandria, VA and Oxon Hill, MD

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.

SUMMARY:

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has approved a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95) Bridge, mile 103.8, across the Potomac River between Alexandria, VA and Oxon Hill, MD. This deviation allows the drawbridge to remain closed to navigation from 8 p.m. on August 12, 2005, to 5 a.m. on August 15, 2005, to facilitate the beltway shift of vehicular traffic for the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge construction project.

DATES:

This deviation is effective from 8 p.m. on August 12, 2005, to 5 a.m. on August 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Materials referred to in this document are available for inspection or copying at Commander (obr), Fifth Coast Guard District, Federal Building, 1st Floor, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is [phone]. Commander (obr), Fifth Coast Guard District maintains the public docket for this temporary deviation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Waverly W. Gregory, Jr., Bridge Administrator, Fifth Coast Guard District, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The existing Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95) Bridge has a vertical clearance in the closed-to-vessel position of 50 feet at mean high water and 52 feet at mean low water.

Coordinators for the construction of the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project requested a temporary deviation from the current operating regulation for the existing Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95) Bridge set out in 33 CFR 117.255(a). The coordinators requested the temporary deviation to close the existing drawbridge to navigation to accommodate the shifting of vehicular traffic on the Outer Loop of the Capital Beltway/I-95 North. The Outer Loop of the Capital Beltway/I-95 North will be reduced from three lanes to only one lane between the Route 1 Interchange and the Wilson Bridge. Project traffic engineers anticipate traffic impacts to peak on Saturday afternoon, with 10 to 15 mile backups and delays of 60 to 90 minutes. Maintaining the existing drawbridge in the closed-to-navigation position from 8 p.m. on Friday, August 12, 2005, to 5 a.m. on Monday, August 15, 2005, will help reduce the impact on vehicular traffic during this phase of new bridge construction.

The Coast Guard has informed the known users of the waterway of the closure period for the bridge so that these vessels can arrange their transits to minimize any impact caused by the temporary deviation.

The District Commander has granted a temporary deviation from the operating requirements listed in 33 CFR 117.35 for the purpose of repair completion of the drawbridge. The temporary deviation allows the Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95) Bridge, mile 103.8, across the Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, Maryland, to remain closed to navigation from 8 p.m. on August 12, 2005, through 5 a.m. on August 15, 2005.

In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(c), this work will be performed with all due speed in order to return the bridge to normal operation as soon as possible. This deviation from the operating regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.

Dated: August 1, 2005.

Waverly W. Gregory, Jr.,

Chief, Bridge Administration Branch, Fifth Coast Guard District.