[Federal Register: April 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 62)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 14932]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02ap09-4]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[USCG-2009-0152]
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Merrimack River, MA, Maintenance
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations.
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SUMMARY: The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a
temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the
Hines Memorial (Main Street) Bridge across the Merrimack River at mile
5.8, between Amesbury and Newburyport, Massachusetts. Under this
temporary deviation the bridge may remain closed for six weeks.
DATES: This deviation is effective from March 17, 2009 through May 15,
2009.
ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in
the docket are part of docket USCG-2009-0152 and are available online
at http: //www.regulations.gov. They are also available for inspection
or copying two locations: the Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S.
Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, and the First
Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch Office, 408 Atlantic Avenue,
Boston, Massachusetts 02110, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John McDonald, Project Officer, First
Coast Guard District, at (617) 223-8364.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Hines Memorial (Main Street) Bridge has a vertical clearance in
the closed position of 13 feet at mean high water and 20 feet at mean
low water. The existing drawbridge operation regulations are listed at
33 CFR 117.5.
The bridge was damaged by a collision with a tug and barge last
November. The bridge was closed to vehicular traffic as a result of
that accident.
Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD), the bridge owner, requested
a temporary deviation to help facilitate load testing necessary to
determine if the bridge will be able to bear the vehicular traffic
loads that will be present when the bridge is scheduled to be re-opened
to vehicular traffic on May 15, 2009.
The waterway has seasonal recreational vessels of various sizes.
There have been few requests to open the bridge during April and May in
past years according to the bridge logs.
This temporary deviation is therefore necessary in order to insure
that the bridge continues to operate in a safe reliable manner.
Under this temporary deviation, in effect from March 17, 2009
through May 15, 2009, the Hines Memorial (Main Street) Bridge may
remain in the closed position.
In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35(e), the bridge 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: March 17, 2009.
Gary Kassof,
Bridge Program Manager, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. E9-7400 Filed 4-1-09; 8:45 am]
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