
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68120-68121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing 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 d13-pf-d13bridges@uscg.mil. 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]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


