Due to major construction, the Gilmerton Highway Bridge, with a closed vertical clearance of 35ft, which crosses the Waterway just south of Norfolk at statute mile 5.8, has been under opening restrictions for over three years. After many, many Local Notices and updates, the bridge has returned to an almost normal operating schedule with updated exceptions listed in an earlier posting: /?p=139962. Our thanks to Matt, the Bridge Tender, for sending us this new notice.

SECTOR HAMPTON ROADS
MARINE SAFETY INFORMATION BULLETIN
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BULLETIN NO: 14/013 TEL: (757) 638-6637, FAX (757) 483-8641
DATE: August 11, 2014
Channel Restriction at the Gilmerton Bridge Update
Elizabeth River Southern Branch, Chesapeake, VA
From 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays until December 31, 2014, two barges with cranes will occupy the channel at the Gilmerton Bridge to conclude demolition operations and install the bridge’s new fendering system. The barges will occupy the entire channel, leaving no clearance for the safe passage of other vessels.
Between the release of the instant Marine Safety Information Bulletin until August 31, 2014, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, all vessels transiting through the area, regardless of size, shall provide two hours advance notice by calling the bridge tender at (757) 485-5488 or via VHF Channel 13.
Between September 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, any vessel requiring 60 feet or less of horizontal clearance shall provide two hours advance notice; vessels requiring more than 60 feet of horizontal clearance shall provide 24 hours advance notice as set forth above.
Between January 1, 2015 until the project concludes on or before February 28, 2015, one barge will occupy the channel from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. Vessels requiring more than 60 feet of horizontal clearance shall provide 2 hours advance notice as set forth above. Vessels requiring 60 feet or less of horizontal clearance need not provide advance notice.
Please be advised that the Gilmerton Bridge continues to operate in accordance with the schedule set forth in 33 Code of Federal Regulations Section 117.997(c).
-USCG-

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