The government wants to require more planning before you take a large recreational boat past the Wise Avenue Bridge in Baltimore County, Maryland. The bascule highway bridge crosses Bear Creek at mile 3.4 between Dundalk and Sparrows Point.
Currently, most vessels that go under the bridge are recreational boats. Current rules require only a four-hour notice if you want the bridge to open. But Baltimore County asked the Coast Guard to change the rule to require a 48-hour notice so the county can make more efficient use of contractor staff time. It says it doesn't get many requests – fewer than 12 a year since 2008 – and most have been to test the bridge. Before it opens the bridge, the county must call its on-call maintenance contractor, who then calls the electrical subcontractor. The subcontractor then has to leave other work to get there, which can be difficult on four hours notice.
Most recreational vessels that travel the creek can fit easily underneath the structure when closed, as it stands 14 feet high at mean high water.
The Coast Guard is taking public comment on the proposed rule change until April 2. It does not plan a public meeting on the subject but will consider one if it gets requests.
For details, see http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-02/html/2012-2283.htm.
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