[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 33, Volume 1]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 33CFR117.123]



[Page 549-551]

 

                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS

 

         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

 

PART 117_DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS--Table of Contents

 

                     Subpart B_Specific Requirements

 

Sec.  117.123  Arkansas Waterway-Automated Railroad Bridges.



    (a) Across the Arkansas River, the draw of the Cotton Belt Railroad 

(Rob Roy) Bridge, Mile 67.4, is maintained in the closed position and is 

remotely operated. The following signals shall be used:

    (1) The opening signal from the vessel for each of these bridges is 

three short blasts.

    (2) The acknowledging signal is flashing white lights visible 

upstream and downstream. When the operator of the vessel sights the 

acknowledging signal, one prolonged blast shall be sounded.

    (3) This signal is acknowledged by the bridge controller when the 

draw is



[[Page 550]]



to open by changing the flashing white lights to continuous white 

lights, and sounding one blast on a horn. When the span is fully raised 

to a maximum clearance of 52 feet, the navigation lights at mid channel 

change from red to green, indicating that the draw is ready for passage.

    (4) If the draw cannot open, flashing amber warning lights are 

flashed and four blasts are sounded, indicating that a train is 

approaching or that maintenance work is in progress.

    (5) The vessel shall acknowledge that there is a delay by sounding 

four short blasts.

    (6) When the draw opens (after the train crosses or when maintenance 

work permits), the amber lights are turned off, the continuous white 

lights turned on, and one blast sounded, to indicate the draw is ready 

for passage.

    (7) The vessel acknowledges with one blast and, after the draw is 

fully open, may proceed through the draw.

    (8) When the vessel clears the draw, the mid channel navigation 

light changes from green to red, the amber warning lights will flash, 

and, after one minute, the draw lowers and locks.

    (b) The draws of the Junction Railroad Bridge at mile 118.7 and the 

Baring Cross Railroad Bridge at mile 119.6, Arkansas River, at Little 

Rock, are maintained in the closed position and are remotely operated. 

The draw of the Rock Island Railroad Bridge at mile 118.2, Arkansas 

River, at Little Rock, is maintained in the open position. Use the 

following procedures to request opening of these bridges when necessary 

for transit;

    (1) Normal Flow Procedures. Any upbound or downbound vessel which 

requires opening the draw of any of these bridges shall establish 

contact by radiotelephone with the remote drawbridge operator on VHF-FM 

Channel 13 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The remote drawbridge 

operator will advise the vessel whether the requested span can be 

immediately opened and maintain constant contact with the vessel until 

the requested span has opened and the vessel passage has been completed. 

If any or all of the drawbridges cannot be opened immediately, the 

remote drawbridge operator will notify the calling vessel and provide an 

estimated time for individual drawbridge openings.

    (2) High Velocity Flow Procedures. The area from mile 118.2 to mile 

125.4 is a regulated navigation area (RNA) as described in 33 CFR 

165.817. During periods of high velocity flow, which is defined as a 

flow rate of 70,000 cubic feet per second or greater at the Murray Lock 

and Dam, mile 125.4, downbound vessels which require that the draw of 

these three bridges be opened for unimpeded passage shall contact the 

remote drawbridge operator on VHF-FM Channel 13 either before departing 

Murray Lock and Dam, or before departing the mooring cells at Mile 121.5 

to ensure that the Rock Island, Junction, and Baring Cross Railroad 

drawbridges are opened. The remote drawbridge operator shall immediately 

respond to the vessel's call, ensure that all three drawbridges are open 

for pasage, and ensure that they remain in the open position until the 

downbound vessel has passed through each drawbridge. If a closed 

drawbridge cannot be opened immediately for unimpeded passage in 

accordance with 33 CFR 163.203, the remote drawbridge operator will 

immediately notify the downbound vessel and provide an estimated time 

for drawbridge openings. Upbound vessels shall request openings in 

accordance with the normal flow procedures as set forth above. The 

remote drawbridge operator shall keep all approaching vessels informed 

of the position of the drawbridge spans.

    (c) The draw of the Arkansas Missouri Railroad Bridge, Mile 300.8 

Arkansas River at Van Buren, and the Missouri Pacific Railroad 

Drawbridge, Mile 7.5 Arkansas Waterway at Benzal, are maintained in the 

open position with a minimum vertical clearance of 52 feet except as 

follows:

    (1) When a train approaches either bridge, amber lights attached to 

the bridge begin to flash and an audible signal on the bridge sounds. At 

the end of 10 minutes, the amber light continues to flash; however, the 

audible signal stops and the draw lowers and locks if the photoelectric 

boat detection system detects no obstruction under the span. If there is 

an obstruction, the draw opens to its full height until obstruction is 

cleared.



[[Page 551]]



    (2) After the train clears the bridge, the draw opens to its full 

height, the amber flashing light stops, and the mid channel lights 

change from red to green, indicating the navigation channel is open for 

the passage of vessels.



[CGD 82-025, 49 FR 17452, Apr. 24, 1984; 49 FR 37381, Sept. 24, 1984, as 

amended by CGD2-91-03, 57 FR 1392, Jan. 14, 1992; USCG-1998-3799, 63 FR 

35527, June 30, 1998; USCG-2000-7223, 65 FR 40056, June 29, 2000]