33 C.F.R. § 117.123 Arkansas Waterway-Automated Railroad Bridges.
Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters
(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 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. (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]
Title 33: Navigation and Navigable Waters
PART 117—DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS
Subpart B—Specific Requirements
Arkansas
§ 117.123 Arkansas Waterway-Automated Railroad Bridges.
