Document ID: USCG-2014-0934-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operations: Lake Washington, Seattle, WA
Posted Date: 2014-10-23T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63314-63315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25271]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2014-0934]

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lake Washington, Seattle, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of deviation from drawbridge regulation.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the 
operating schedule that governs the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge 
(State Route 520) across Lake Washington 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 position two 
hours before and two hours after each game. Note that the game times 
for the games scheduled at Husky Stadium have not yet been determined 
due to NCAA television scheduling.

DATES: This deviation is effective from October 25, 2014 through 
November 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this deviation, [USCG-2014-0934] 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, Bridge 
Administrator, Thirteenth District, Coast Guard; telephone 206-220-
7282, email Steven.M.Fischer3@uscg.mil. If you have questions on 
viewing the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Washington State Department of 
Transportation, on behalf of the University of Washington Police 
Department, has requested that the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge 
(State Route 520) remain closed to vessel traffic, and need not open to 
vessel traffic to facilitate timely movement of pre-game and post-game 
football traffic. The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge provides three 
navigational openings for vessel passage, the movable floating span, 
subject to this closure, and two fixed navigational openings; one on 
the east end of the bridge and one on the west end. The fixed 
navigational opening on the east end of the bridge provides a 
horizontal clearance of 150 feet and a vertical clearance of 57 feet 
(the east end navigation channel is currently blocked due to 
construction). The opening on the west end of the bridge provides a 
horizontal clearance of 170 feet and a vertical clearance of 45 feet. 
These vertical clearance measurements are made in reference to the Mean 
Water Level of Lake Washington. Vessels which do not require a bridge 
opening may continue to transit beneath the bridge during these closure 
periods. Under normal conditions this bridge opens on signal if at 
least two hours notice is given in 33 CFR 117.1049.
    This deviation period will cover the dates October 25, 2014, 
November 8, 2014, and November 22, 2014. The times for the closures 
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 deviation allows the center span of Evergreen Point Floating 
Bridge (State Route 520) to remain in the closed position and need not 
open for maritime traffic for two hours before and after the University 
of Washington football game on October 25, 2014, November 8, 2014, and 
November 22, 2014. The bridge shall operate in accordance to 33 CFR 
117.1049 at all other times. Waterway usage on the Lake Washington Ship 
Canal ranges from commercial tug and barge to small pleasure craft.

[[Page 63315]]

    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 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 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: October 10, 2014.
Steven M. Fischer,
Bridge Administrator, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2014-25271 Filed 10-22-14; 8:45 am]
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