MSIB 20-17 Proposed Changes to the Schuylkill River Rail Road Bridge Crossing

The Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay, is notifying mariners of public notice 5-1376 regarding an application by the City of Philadelphia to the Coast Guard for the approval of locations and plans for modification of the existing railroad drawbridge over the Schuylkill River, mile 5.47, in Philadelphia, PA. This proposal includes removing the existing Schuylkill River Rail Road Drawbridge superstructure and replacing it with a new pedestrian drawbridge, while reusing existing piers and abutments in the new bridge construction. The current vertical clearance of the existing bridge is 22 feet above mean high water. The west draw is 75 feet between bridge fenders and the east draw is 65 feet between fenders. The proposed new pedestrian bridge would have a vertical clearance of 26.17 feet above mean high water. The proposed pedestrian bridge west and east draw would have 75 feet between the bridge fenders.

Mariners are asked to provide navigation information, such as the size and types of vessels presently operated on the waterway, and the nature of navigation (including the extent of nighttime navigation). Mariners are also asked to comment on the navigational clearances and the need for bridge protective systems, clearance gauges, and navigational lighting on the proposed bridge.

Interested parties are asked to express their views on the proposed bridge project in writing, giving sufficient detail to establish a clear understanding of their reason for support of, or opposition to, the proposed project. Comments will be received for the record at the office of Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004 through 11 SEP 2017.

An electronic version of public notice 5-1376 can be found here:
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/bridges/publicNotices//D05PN137617_GraysFerryPedestrianBridge_PhiladelphiaPA.pdf

If you have any questions regarding the content of this bulletin, please contact the Waterways Management staff at (215) 271-4889.




S. E. ANDERSON
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard
Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay