Bridge comment on SR 401 Drawbridges

Comment by: Robert H, Sanderling, on May 28, 2017
Vessel Type: Power

We were cruising through the barge canal toward Port Canaveral today (SUNDAY) when several sailboats were warned by the lock tender that the Rte 401 bridge (east of the lock) is on a "curfew" (never heard that term applied to a bridge schedule before) and was not opening between 1100 and 1400. Looked for a LNM for this restriction and couldn't find any, but didn't do an extensive search. There were four sailboats eastbound that weren't aware of the restriction; two of them turned back (they were already in the lock) into the Banana River to wait out the "curfew" and two others locked through to tie up to the pilings on the north side of the waterway between the lock and the bridge. The tender would not permit the boats to tie up to the rip-rap on the east side of the lock due to other boat traffic.

Might want to reinforce the existence of this "curfew." It is apparently in place to allow unrestricted vehicular traffic to the northern cruise terminal, and may be in place whenever a cruise ship is in the west terminal basin. Have no idea how long it will continue, but if its purpose is to make vehicular access to cruise ships easier, it may be in place for some time in the future.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Waterway Guide reviewed the CG 7th District LNM and there is a restriction in place. We have posted a nav alert for this bridge. Many thanks to Sanderling for bringing this to our attention.

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