Coast Guard Proposes Remote Operations and Schedule Adjustments for Manitowoc River Drawbridges

The U.S. Coast Guard, under the Department of Homeland Security, has issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to significantly alter the operational guidelines for two critical drawbridges spanning the Manitowoc River in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Published on October 22, 2026, this proposal primarily seeks to integrate remote operation capabilities for the Eighth Street Bridge at mile 0.29 and the Tenth Street Bridge at mile 0.43. This move builds upon earlier efforts to alleviate downtown vehicle congestion and modernizes the infrastructure management of these essential waterways. The proposed changes also refine the existing operating schedule. The Coast Guard is actively soliciting public comments on this SNPRM until November 23, 2026.

Background and Evolution of the Proposal

This current SNPRM, identified as Docket No. USCG-2024-0407, is a progression from an interim rule published on May 21, 2025, in the Federal Register (90 FR 21694). That initial rule allowed for public testing of an alternative drawbridge schedule, specifically designed to mitigate traffic bottlenecks in downtown Manitowoc while still accommodating the needs of marine navigation. The City of Manitowoc initiated this process, seeking a comprehensive review of existing bridge regulations. While the interim rule focused on scheduling adjustments, it did not address remote operations. The current SNPRM expands the scope by formally proposing the inclusion of remote operation for both bridges, a key request from the City of Manitowoc.

Technical Specifications and Current Regulations

The Eighth Street Bridge, located at mile 0.29, is a double leaf bascule bridge offering a horizontal clearance of 120 feet and a vertical clearance of 12 feet above Low Water Datum (LWD) when closed. The Tenth Street Bridge, at mile 0.43, is also a double leaf bascule bridge with a 120-foot horizontal clearance and a 14-foot vertical clearance above LWD in the closed position. Both bridges provide unlimited vertical clearance when open. These bridges currently operate under special regulations detailed in 33 CFR 117.1089. The proposed rule would revise this section to incorporate the new scheduling and remote operation provisions.

The specific proposed schedule changes maintain the general requirement for the draws to open on signal. However, from April 1 through November 30, Monday through Friday, openings are not required between 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., 11 a.m. to noon, and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., excluding weekends and federal holidays. Additionally, between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., a two-hour advance notice is required for openings. During the winter months, from December 1 through March 31, a 12-hour advance notice will be necessary for bridge openings. These modifications aim to balance vehicular flow during peak times with navigational access.

Integration of Remote Operations

A significant aspect of this SNPRM is the proposed authorization for remote operations. The City of Manitowoc proposed operating one of the bridges remotely. Following this, the Coast Guard District Commander directed a comprehensive cybersecurity review of the bridge systems. This review concluded that the owner-provided safeguards appear sufficient to approve remote operations. The operational model envisions a control house at each bridge, allowing a single drawtender to remotely operate one or both bridges. This centralizes control and aims to improve efficiency. To ensure continued safety and communication with vessels, the bridges will be mandated to maintain and operate a radiotelephone and a two-way public address system. These systems must be capable of responding to sound signals or voice communication between the operator and vessels traversing the river.

Regulatory and Economic Impact Analysis

The Coast Guard's regulatory analysis considers various federal statutes and Executive Orders. Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Coast Guard certifies that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This determination rests on the fact that vessels will still be able to transit the bridges, effectively experiencing no change in access compared to when a drawtender is physically present. The rule introduces no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Furthermore, the proposal aligns with federalism principles outlined in Executive Order 13132 and does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 13175. It also complies with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, as it is not anticipated to result in expenditures exceeding $100 million annually. Environmentally, the Coast Guard has determined that this action falls within a category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment, typically excluded from further National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review. These analyses underscore the Coast Guard's assessment that the proposed changes are administratively sound and have minimal adverse broader impacts.

Public Participation and Future Trajectory

The Coast Guard strongly emphasizes public participation in its rulemaking process. Interested parties are encouraged to submit comments and related material concerning this SNPRM by November 23, 2026. Comments can be submitted online via the federal eRulemaking portal, regulations.gov, under docket number USCG-2024-0407. This public comment period is crucial for gathering diverse perspectives that can help refine the final rule.

The implementation of remote operations for these Manitowoc River bridges represents a broader trend towards modernizing infrastructure management through technology. While offering potential benefits in terms of traffic flow and operational costs for the City of Manitowoc, the proposal also highlights the Coast Guard's role in ensuring navigational safety and cybersecurity in an increasingly automated environment. The balance between municipal needs for traffic relief, technological advancement, and federal oversight of waterways remains a key consideration as this rulemaking proceeds.