I got conflicting information about the opening of those bridges. I read in some place that you need four hours notice and in other places that you can just call on channel 16 or 9 and ask for an opening. Does anyone have personal experience on this matter? Thank you.
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Sacramento River bridges
- Thread starter Arnold
- Start date
The Sacramento River Bridge operators monitor Ch 9 for bridge openings. Below is the regulatory reference for the bridge operation hours. Until Halloween, they are manned from 6AM-10PM. Nov 1 to April 30, 9AM-5PM. All other hours, they require advance notice.
The Rio Vista Bridge is the main bridge for coordinating after hours openings. They can also answer questions about hours of operation and advance notice requirements. Their number is 707-374-2134.
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=33&PART=117&SECTION=189&YEAR=2000&TYPE=PDF
§ 117.189 Sacramento River.
(a) The draws of each bridge from
Isleton to American River junction
shall open on signal from May 1
through October 31 from 6 a.m. to 10
p.m. and from November 1 through
April 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At all
other times, the draws shall open on
signal if at least four hours notice is
given to the drawtender at the Rio
Vista bridge across the Sacramento
River, mile 12.8.
(b) The draws of the California Department
of Transportation bridges,
mile 90.1 at Knights Landing, and mile
135.5 at Meridian, shall open on signal
if at least 12 hours notice is given to
the California Department of Transportation
at Marysville.
The Rio Vista Bridge is the main bridge for coordinating after hours openings. They can also answer questions about hours of operation and advance notice requirements. Their number is 707-374-2134.
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=33&PART=117&SECTION=189&YEAR=2000&TYPE=PDF
§ 117.189 Sacramento River.
(a) The draws of each bridge from
Isleton to American River junction
shall open on signal from May 1
through October 31 from 6 a.m. to 10
p.m. and from November 1 through
April 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At all
other times, the draws shall open on
signal if at least four hours notice is
given to the drawtender at the Rio
Vista bridge across the Sacramento
River, mile 12.8.
(b) The draws of the California Department
of Transportation bridges,
mile 90.1 at Knights Landing, and mile
135.5 at Meridian, shall open on signal
if at least 12 hours notice is given to
the California Department of Transportation
at Marysville.
There is also the "I" Street bridge at the northern end of Old Sac. I believe it operates in the same manner as the Tower Bridge to the south. I remember a few years ago, a sail boat heading upriver at night did not know about that bridge. Its mast struck the bridge and boat overturned and sank. No souls were lost, but the did not survive.
Have a fun, safe trip!
Have a fun, safe trip!
This link should have the info you need for Delta bridges.
http://www.boatharborslocator.com/california_drawbridge_information.htm
Kris
http://www.boatharborslocator.com/california_drawbridge_information.htm
Kris
Kris,
Great link for consolidated bridge info. I've bookmarked it for future reference. I have found the bridge operators very receptive to phone calls clarifying hours of operation, bridge clearances, etc.
It was great running into you and your family in Oxbow last month. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip. Hope to bump into you sometime in the bay (figuratively, of course).
Great link for consolidated bridge info. I've bookmarked it for future reference. I have found the bridge operators very receptive to phone calls clarifying hours of operation, bridge clearances, etc.
It was great running into you and your family in Oxbow last month. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip. Hope to bump into you sometime in the bay (figuratively, of course).
Flutterby
The mishap with the sailboat happened almost 10 years ago. Time flies,doesn't it? Anyhow, the boat was a 50'sailboat named as I recall "Namsung". It was late winter and the boat was coming downriver...It signaled for the bridge to open and it did. Problem was the river was running very high and fast. The "I" st bridge is a swing bridge, however there are power lines spanning the river above the bridge. The top foot or so the the mast snagged the power lines...the current kept the boat moving and down she went. Actually, it's still there, but they cut the masts off about a year later. It was never raised because the owner did not have it insured at the time....hard to believe isn't it?
Mike
The mishap with the sailboat happened almost 10 years ago. Time flies,doesn't it? Anyhow, the boat was a 50'sailboat named as I recall "Namsung". It was late winter and the boat was coming downriver...It signaled for the bridge to open and it did. Problem was the river was running very high and fast. The "I" st bridge is a swing bridge, however there are power lines spanning the river above the bridge. The top foot or so the the mast snagged the power lines...the current kept the boat moving and down she went. Actually, it's still there, but they cut the masts off about a year later. It was never raised because the owner did not have it insured at the time....hard to believe isn't it?
Mike
Mike Thanks for the details! I had forgotten or never head them before. I remember seeing the mast poking a few feet above the surface the following summer. Yes, time does fly and so does my memory--- fly away anyway! LOL
How did that sail boat get upstream without snagging the power lines???? I doubt you can step a mast easily on that size........ Inquiring minds want to know.
How did that sail boat get upstream without snagging the power lines???? I doubt you can step a mast easily on that size........ Inquiring minds want to know.
Flutterby...
As I recall, the charts indicated that the power lines were over a 100' at LW. The skipper did not take into consideration that the river, I believe was running well over 15'above normal at that time. There was a lot of legal talk going on about whose fault, but the boats still there. They did, however raise the lines a lot higher. The owner did try to salvage it, but the current is just too strong and they couldn't keep it from silting in. I guess the money ran out and that's that.
As I recall, the charts indicated that the power lines were over a 100' at LW. The skipper did not take into consideration that the river, I believe was running well over 15'above normal at that time. There was a lot of legal talk going on about whose fault, but the boats still there. They did, however raise the lines a lot higher. The owner did try to salvage it, but the current is just too strong and they couldn't keep it from silting in. I guess the money ran out and that's that.
So maybe he went upstream before the flood of water had gotten that far....... I can just imagine the difficulty of trying to salvage it! I had a really tough time weighing anchor in that river one spring. The current was almost stronger then engine could push the boat!
I have also found them very helpful when I call them. I usually just call them on the phone for a bridge opening also. I suppose being in the booth on the bridge all day you would look forward to talking to someone.
It was nice running into you at Oxbow. We really like that marina as all the people working there are so nice. Also, with all the Palm trees it feels a bit tropical. We plan to spend at least a month out there next year so I am sure we will run into you again.
Kris
It was nice running into you at Oxbow. We really like that marina as all the people working there are so nice. Also, with all the Palm trees it feels a bit tropical. We plan to spend at least a month out there next year so I am sure we will run into you again.
Kris