Coast Guard Proposes Temporary Closure of Macombs Dam Bridge for Rehabilitation

The United States Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register proposing a temporary modification to the operating schedule for the Macombs Dam Bridge. Located at mile 3.2 of the Harlem River between Manhattan and the Bronx, the bridge is owned and operated by the New York City Department of Transportation. The proposed rule would keep the drawbridge in the closed position continuously from 12:01 a.m. on February 1, 2027, through 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2027. This regulatory action aims to facilitate critical structural rehabilitation work on the aging span.

Background and Purpose

Built 131 years ago, the Macombs Dam Bridge requires extensive maintenance to ensure ongoing public safety and structural integrity. The New York City Department of Transportation submitted a formal request on August 31, 2026, asking for the temporary suspension of normal opening requirements. Under the current regulations outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations, the bridge opens on signal with a four-hour advance notice, subject to commuter rush hour restrictions. To perform the necessary repairs, contractors must install a work platform system underneath the bridge deck. This platform will lower the vertical clearance of the bridge from 28.2 feet to no less than 24.5 feet above mean high water when closed, while leaving navigation lights fully operational.

Impact on Navigation and Stakeholder Engagement

Commercial vessels such as small passenger ships and marine construction support vessels, alongside recreational watercraft, regularly transit this section of the Harlem River. During the ten-month closure period, vessels that fit within the modified vertical clearance will still be able to pass underneath the bridge. Furthermore, commercial and recreational operators requiring greater vertical clearance can access the Harlem River via alternative routes through confluences with the East River to the east and the Hudson River to the west. Prior to submitting the formal request, the New York City Department of Transportation briefed the Port of New York and New Jersey Harbor Safety, Navigation, and Operations Committee on the project. Representatives comprising major segments of waterway users indicated no objections to the proposed schedule modification.

Regulatory Analyses and Compliance

The Coast Guard evaluated the proposed rule against various statutes and executive orders. Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the agency certified that the rule would not impose a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, given the availability of alternative navigational routes and the ability of low-clearance vessels to pass underneath the closed span. Environmental evaluations conducted under Department of Homeland Security directives determined that drawbridge operating regulations qualify for a categorical exclusion from further review under the National Environmental Policy Act. The action also maintains consistency with federalism principles and imposes no tribal implications.