[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68120-68121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27008]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2014-0912]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lake Washington Ship Canal,
Seattle, WA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the
operating schedule that governs the Seattle Department of
Transportation (SDOT) double leaf bascule Ballard Bridge across the
Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 1.1, at Seattle, WA. The requested
deviation is to accommodate evening detoured commuter traffic during
road construction. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the
closed position for an extra hour during evening traffic.
DATES: This deviation is effective from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. daily
Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays, from November 19,
2014 until January 31, 2015.
ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2014-0912] 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.
[[Page 68121]]
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 206-220-7282,
email [email protected]. If you have questions on viewing the
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations,
telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SDOT has requested a temporary deviation
from the operating schedule for the Ballard Bridge, mile 1.1, crossing
the Lake Washington Ship Canal at Seattle, WA. The requested deviation
is to accommodate evening detoured commuter traffic during road
construction. To facilitate timely efficient movement of highway
traffic, the currently published drawbridge closure hours will be
extended by one hour. The extended closure hours will be from 4 p.m. to
7 p.m. daily Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays, from
November 19, 2014 until January 31, 2015.
The Ballard Bridge, mile 1.1, provides a vertical clearance of 29
feet in the closed position; clearances are referenced to the mean
water elevation of Lake Washington. The current operating schedule for
the bridge is set out in 33 CFR 117.1051. The normal operating schedule
for the Ballard Bridge states that the bridge need not open from 7 a.m.
to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, except
federal holidays but Columbus Day for vessels less than 1000 tons,
unless the vessel has in tow a vessel of 1000 gross tons or more. The
normal operating schedule for the bridge also requires one hour advance
notification for bridge openings between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily.
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 positions may do so at anytime. 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 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 designated
time period. This deviation from the operating regulations is
authorized under 33 CFR 117.35.
Dated: October 31, 2014.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2014-27008 Filed 11-13-14; 8:45 am]
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