Due to major construction, the Gilmerton Highway Bridge, with a closed vertical clearance of 35ft and which crosses the Waterway just south of Norfolk at statute mile 5.8, has been under opening restrictions for over three years. Cruisers should not be affected by these daytime restrictions for vessels of over 60ft beam, but late evening travel after 8PM will require a 2 hour notification of vessels of less than 60ft beam, i.e. “us”! Northbound cruisers must plan carefully to navigate the Great Bridge lock early enough to allow arrival at Gilmerton before 8PM. Many thanks to our good friend, Matt the Bridge Tender, who keeps us posted on all things Gilmerton!

Here is the new MSIB (15/011) for the Gilmerton Bridge (M/M 5.8 on the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake, Virginia). I’ve attached the document and also pasted the same in the text of this email.
As a reminder all the bridges, locks and commercial traffic in this area monitor marine channel 13.
The new Gilmerton Bridge has 35 feet at MHW when closed/135 feet at MHW when fully opened. Use caution when transiting as fender construction continues through the Summer 2015.
The bascule spans of the Steel Bridge/Dominion Boulevard Bridge (M/M 8.8) have been permanently removed and replaced with an unmanned fixed high rise bridge – clearance 95 feet at MHW.
Look forward to seeing as many of you as possible this Spring.
V/R,
Matt the Bridge Tender
W (757) 485-5488

SECTOR HAMPTON ROADS
MARINE SAFETY INFORMATION BULLETIN
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
BULLETIN NO: 15/011 TEL: (757) 638-6637, FAX (757) 483-8641
DATE: March 27, 2015

Channel Restrictions at the Gilmerton Bridge
Elizabeth River Southern Branch, Chesapeake, VA

This Bulletin serves to update and supersede MSIB 15-004 [/?p=146043], released on February 06, 2015. All operations listed below are subject to change due to weather, unforeseen factors or operational contingencies.

Day Shift Operations
Please be advised that PCL Civil Constructors will continue to conduct day shift structural plate welding and construction of the rubber arch fendering system until September 30, 2015. One working barge will occupy the channel from 7:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. All vessels requiring 60 feet or more of horizontal clearance shall provide 2 hours advance notice as detailed below.

Night Shift Operations
Due to weather related delays, PCL Civil Constructors will continue to conduct night shift pile driving operations until April 15, 2015. Two working barges will occupy the channel from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. All vessels requiring less than 60 feet of horizontal clearance shall provide 2 hours advance notice. All vessels requiring 60 feet or more of horizontal clearance shall provide 24 hours advance notice.

PCL Civil Constructors will conduct night shift structural plate welding and construction of the rubber arch fendering system from April 15, 2015 until September 30, 2015. One working barge will occupy the channel from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. All vessels requiring 60 feet or more of horizontal clearance shall provide 2 hours advance notice.

Mariners providing such notice shall contact the bridge tender at (757) 485-5488 or via VHF Channel 13. All mariners are advised to use extreme caution while transiting the area. 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).

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Bridge Directory Listing For Gilmerton Hwy Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Gilmerton Hwy Bridge