by Arborwayfan
I'd be curious to hear specifics about the particular river and what goes on on it, but if the CG is not speaking against it, it's probably a good idea:
The Coast Guard (the governing agency, from whose perspective Amtrak wants to permanently close the bridge) is really unlikely to allow a movable bridge to be converted into a fixed bridge if there is any significant shipping traffic that needs the bridge to be opened to pass through. Maybe they would allow it if there were occasional ships or sailboats that would have to wait until low tide. The law is pretty clear about the prior rights of shipping. I'm thinking of the draw in the East Cambridge Viaduct, the swing bridge on the Charles River a little further down, the various movable bridges on the Fort Point Channel -- all kept in working order until there was no water traffic that needed them.
From the railroad's perspective it's got to be a good idea, not just because it's expensive to keep a movable bridge in working order, but also because such a bridge has to be staffed 24/7 and needs an interlocking (with its own maintenance) to protect trains. A story that starts "As the early morning Acela express headed south at 100 mph, the engineer saw that the drawbridge ahead was open" is not going to end well.
The Coast Guard (the governing agency, from whose perspective Amtrak wants to permanently close the bridge) is really unlikely to allow a movable bridge to be converted into a fixed bridge if there is any significant shipping traffic that needs the bridge to be opened to pass through. Maybe they would allow it if there were occasional ships or sailboats that would have to wait until low tide. The law is pretty clear about the prior rights of shipping. I'm thinking of the draw in the East Cambridge Viaduct, the swing bridge on the Charles River a little further down, the various movable bridges on the Fort Point Channel -- all kept in working order until there was no water traffic that needed them.
From the railroad's perspective it's got to be a good idea, not just because it's expensive to keep a movable bridge in working order, but also because such a bridge has to be staffed 24/7 and needs an interlocking (with its own maintenance) to protect trains. A story that starts "As the early morning Acela express headed south at 100 mph, the engineer saw that the drawbridge ahead was open" is not going to end well.