SAFETY ALERT: BNSF Railway Vertical Lift Span Bridge Maintenance & Traffic Restrictions

1. The Captain of the Port Houma is issuing a safety alert advising all mariners of maintenance work taking place on the BNSF Railway Vertical Lift Span Bridge across the Atchafalaya River at Port Allen Route Mile 01 in Morgan City, Louisiana. Repair activities are scheduled to start on March 20, 2023 and continue until July 6, 2023. The Railway Vertical Lift Span Bridge will not open and remain closed to vessel traffic beginning at 7 a.m. for 5 hours each on the following dates: April 12, 20, 25, 26, 27; May 19, 24, 25, 31; and June 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23. One 8-hour closure will also begin at 7 a.m. on April 13, 2023. Dates and duration of scheduled closures are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Mariners are urged to verify bridge statuses prior to getting underway and conduct appropriate voyage planning.

2. Two (2) traveling platforms will be placed underneath the lift span section of the bridge and will reduce the bridge’s vertical clearance (in the down and up position) by 4 feet. Each traveling platform is 60’ in length and will be moved to different locations under the lift span throughout the project. These platforms will be lit according to 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 118.150.

3. For further information on this advisory contact VTS Berwick Bay at (985) 380-5370 or on Channel 11 VHF-FM.

4. To access all MSIBs in the COTP Houma Zone visit: https://homeport.uscg.mil/port-directory/Houma

//signed//

L. T. O’Brien
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard
Captain of the Port
Houma, Louisiana