---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 C.F.R. § 117.255"
title: "33"
number: "117.255"
heading: "Potomac River."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/117.255"
---

# §117.255. Potomac River.

- (a) The draw of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial (I-95) bridge, mile 103.8, between Alexandria, Virginia, and Oxon Hill, Maryland—
  - (1) Shall open on signal at any time only for a vessel in distress, notwithstanding the provisions of [§ 117.31](/cfr/33/117.31.md).
  - (2) **Shall open for the passage of a commercial vessel at any time except—**
    - (i) From Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays), 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    - (ii) Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  - (3) **Need not open for the passage of a commercial vessel under paragraph (a)(2) of this section unless—**
    - (i) The owner or operator of the vessel provides the bridge tender with an estimate of the approximate time of that passage at least 12 hours in advance at (571) 513-3745; and
    - (ii) the owner or operator of the vessel notifies the bridge tender at least 4 hours in advance of the requested time for that passage.
  - (4) **Shall open for the passage of a recreational vessel at any time except—**
    - (i) Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays), 5 a.m. to 12 midnight;
    - (ii) Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays, 7 a.m. to 12 midnight, except as provided in [paragraph (a)(4)(iii)](#a-4-iii) of this section;
    - (iii) Notwithstanding [paragraph (a)(4)(ii)](#a-4-ii) of this section, the bridge may open beginning at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal holiday for the passage of a recreational vessel if the owner or operator of the vessel notifies the Bridge Tender of the time of that passage by not later than 12 hours before that time.
  - (5) **Need not open for the passage of a recreational vessel under paragraph (a)(4) of this section unless—**
    - (i) The owner or operator of the vessel provides the bridge tender with an estimate of the approximate time of that passage at least 12 hours in advance at (571) 513-3745; and
    - (ii) the owner or operator of the vessel notifies the bridge tender at least 4 hours in advance of the requested time for that passage.
  - (6) A recreational vessel may pass through the drawspan at any time it is open for the passage of a commercial vessel.
- (b) **The draws of all other bridges need not be opened for the passage of vessels.**
- (c) **This section is also issued under the authority of Pub.** L. 102-587, 106 Stat. 5039.

## Notes

### Amendments

[CGD 90-064, 57 FR 54178, Nov. 17, 1992, as amended byCGD05-06-083, 71 FR 51480, Aug. 30, 2006; USCG-2001-10881, 71 FR 70310, Dec. 4, 2006; 72 FR 50876, Sept. 5, 2007; USCG-2008-1216, 74 FR 31182, June 30, 2009; USCG-2024-1103, 90 FR 52877, Nov. 24, 2025]

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 1.05-1; and DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

### Source

Source: CGD 82-025, 49 FR 17452, Apr. 24, 1984, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[CGD 90-064, 57 FR 54178, Nov. 17, 1992, as amended byCGD05-06-083, 71 FR 51480, Aug. 30, 2006; USCG-2001-10881, 71 FR 70310, Dec. 4, 2006; 72 FR 50876, Sept. 5, 2007; USCG-2008-1216, 74 FR 31182, June 30, 2009; USCG-2024-1103, 90 FR 52877, Nov. 24, 2025]