SEC VA MSIB 168-22 - Elizabeth River - Norfolk Southern #7 Railroad Bridge - Bridge Deviation Proposal - Request for Comment

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 05/02/2022 02:09 PM EDT

united states coast guard

Sector Virginia
Marine Safety Information Bulletin

(757) 374-3408
VirginiaWaterways@uscg.mil

MSIB 168-22

May 2, 2022

Elizabeth River - Norfolk Southern #7 Railroad Bridge - Bridge Deviation

 Request for Comment

 The Coast Guard has received a request on behalf of Norfolk Southern Railroad for temporary deviation on the Norfolk Southern #7 Railroad Bridge, mile 5.8, in Chesapeake, VA.  The Coast Guard is requesting comment on the particulars of the bridge deviation proposal be submitted via email on or before 10:00 a.m. Wednesday May 11, 2021.

 Proposed closure dates/times and details:

 The proposed maintenance requires a work barge to occupy most of the navigational channel and the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position for several hours each morning and each afternoon for 5 weeks of Monday-Friday closures. The work will occur between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on each of the following proposed dates in June - July:

  • Monday, June 6th through Friday, June 10th.
  • Monday, June 13th through Friday, June 17th.
  • Monday, June 20th through Friday, June 24th.
  • Monday, June 27th through Friday, July 1st.
  • Monday, July 4th through Friday, July 8th.

During each weekdays’ closure period, there will be a 1.5 hour scheduled opening, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., where the work barge will be removed from the navigational channel to allow for marine traffic to proceed without any reduction in horizontal clearance and the bridge will be maintained in the open-to-navigation position.

The bridge will NOT be available and the work barge will NOT be able to relocate to accommodate vessel transits during closure periods. Mariners should carefully consider transit plans outside of proposed closures and use caution when transiting the area. At all other times outside the closure periods, the bridge will operate as required by regulations.

This information will be published in the Fifth Coast Guard District's Local Notice to Mariners.

To submit comments or concerns on the aforementioned proposal, please contact the United States Coast Guard Sector Virginia Waterways Management Division duty officer at by email at VirginiaWaterways@uscg.mil. 

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