NOTICE TO NAVIGATION INTERESTS
                                                                            

OKEECHOBEE WATERWAY
FEC Stuart Railroad Bridge Extended Closures

REFERENCE:
a.     33 CFR Navigation and Navigable Waters
1. Notice to Navigation

Notice is given that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been notified of the following scheduled    Bridge closures affecting Navigation of the Okeechobee Waterway.

Detailed information for the general public:

FEC Stuart Railroad Bridge closures starting the evening of Sunday April 16 and return to normal operations at 7 a.m. on Monday, May 29, 2023

Overnight closures: 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday, April, 16 to 6 a.m. Friday, April 28

Drawbridge to remain in the down position overnight; vessels able to pass beneath the bridge without an opening may do so at any time.

From 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily, the drawbridge shall operate per 33 CFR 117.317(c).

NOTE per Jennifer Zercher at USCG:

The bridge is not operated on request, it will operate per the regulation –

• The bridge is not constantly tended.
• The draw is normally in the fully open position, displaying flashing green lights to indicate that vessels may pass.
• When a train approaches the bridge, the navigation lights go to flashing red and a horn sounds four blasts, pauses, and then repeats four blasts. After an eight minute delay, the draw lowers and locks, providing the scanning equipment reveals nothing under the draw. The draw remains down for a period of eight minutes or while the approach track circuit is occupied.
• After the train has cleared, the draw opens and the lights return to flashing green.

Additionally, the bridge shall remain open to allow for the passage of vessel traffic for 1 hour in the morning and one hour in evening, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. in the morning and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the evening.

Drawbridge returns to Normal Operations at 7 a.m. on Friday April 28, through 6 a.m. on Monday, May 1.

Full Closure: 6 a.m., Monday, May 1 to 6 a.m., Monday, May 22

Drawbridge to remain in the down position; vessels able to pass beneath the bridge without an opening may do so at any time.

On Monday May 22, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., the bridge shall remain open to vessel traffic.

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 22, the bridge shall operate per 33 CFR 117.317(c).

Overnight closures: 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., beginning Monday, May 22 at 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Monday May 29.

Drawbridge to remain in the down position overnight; vessels able to pass beneath the bridge without an opening may do so at any time.

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, the drawbridge shall operate per 33 CFR 117.317(c).

Additionally, the bridge shall remain open to allow for the passage of vessel traffic for 1 hour in the morning and one hour in evening, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. in the morning and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the evening.

Drawbridge returns to normal operations 7 a.m., Monday, May 29.

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The following provides pertinent information was received from U.S. Coast Guard:

Brightline Trains Florida, LLC, acting on behalf of the bridge owner, Florida East Coast Railway

(FECR), is authorized to temporarily deviate from drawbridge operation regulation, 33 CFR

117.317(c), that governs the FEC Stuart Railroad Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway (St.

Lucie River), mile 7.4, at Stuart, Florida.

Under this temporary deviation, the FEC Stuart Railroad Bridge is allowed to remain in the down

(closed) position during the following dates and times:

1. April 16, 2023, through April 28, 2023, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., daily.

2. From 6 a.m. on May 1, 2023, until 6 a.m. on May 22, 2023.

3. May 22, 2023, through May 29, 2023, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., daily.

Additionally, the FEC Stuart Railroad Bridge shall remain in the up (open) position during the

follow dates and times:

1. April 16, 2023, through April 28, 2023, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., daily.

2. May 22, 2023, through May 29, 2023, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., daily.

During all other times between April 16, 2023, through May 29, 2023, the bridge shall operate per 33 CFR 117.317(c).

If you have any questions please contact USCG Sector Miami Waterways Division, LTJG Benjamin Adrien at 305 535-4307, email Benjamin.D.Adrien@uscg.mil or my representative Ms. Jennifer Zercher at 305-415-6740, email Jennifer.N.Zercher@uscg.mil.

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For up-to-date Lock information, contact the shift operator at:

Okeechobee Waterway Locks from 7 AM to 5 PM

St. Lucie Lock & Dam 772-287-2665

     Port Mayaca Lock & Dam 561-924-2858

     Julian Keen, Jr. Lock & Dam 863-946-0414

     Ortona Lock & Dam 863-675-0616

 W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam 239-694-5451

Canaveral Harbor Lock 6 AM to 9:30 PM

      Canaveral Lock 321-783-5421

  //signed//
Kriss Zeller
Chief of Navigation
South Florida Operations