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Coast Guard signs final rule for the New River Bridge

September 28, 2016

MIAMI— The Coast Guard signed a final rule on August 22, 2016 for the Florida East Coast Railway Railroad Bridge that spans across the New River near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Effective October 24, 2016, this rule requires the bridge operator to ensure that adequate notice of bridge closure times are available to the waterway traffic. It also changes the schedule from requiring openings “on demand” to an operating regulation requiring the bridge to be open no fewer than 60 minutes in every two hour period.  Changing the bridge operating schedule will allow the bridge owner to operate the bridge remotely with assistance from the onsite bridge tender.

Additionally, due to the large number of concerns regarding the noise level of the bridge horn blast, prior to a bridge closure, the rule states the horn will not be required since the bridge will no longer be unmanned.

"While creating this final rule the Coast Guard worked closely with all concerned parties to ensure the vehicular/rail transportation needs were addressed without unreasonably disrupting marine traffic along this waterway," Rodney Elkins, bridge management specialist for the Coast 7th Guard District.

A total of 234 submissions were received resulting in a total of 319 comments concerning the proposed rule. This rule published in the Federal Register on September 23, 2016 can be viewed by visiting https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/09/23/2016-22915/drawbrid....

Click here for the press release on the Notice of Temporary Deviation on the New River Bridge http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2515970/Coast-Guard-publishes-Notice....

For more information, contact U.S. Coast Guard, 7th District Public Affairs Office at (305) 415-6683.

For breaking news, follow us on Twitter @uscgsoutheast.

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