Bridge Rules

Vehicular Traffic

The traveling public shall comply with the following regulations:

• When the Bridge is closed to road and/or pedestrian traffic, barriers shall be placed across the Bridge Approaches at each end of the Bridge. Pedestrian walkways will also be closed.
• No Vehicles shall stop on the bridge unless required to do so by the Bridge Manager or any person lawfully carrying out his instructions.
  No Animal drawn vehicle, hand cart, snow-cone cart, or other vehicles of similar types shall be on the Bridge at any time.
• No vending of any kind shall be permitted on the Bridge or the approaches to the Bridge.
• No unauthorized stopping, parking or overtaking of vehicles shall be allowed on the Bridge.
• No U-Turn is permitted on the Bridge.
• Maximum weight limit on the Bridge is 22.4 Tonnes.
• The DHBC will facilitate special crossings for vehicles that cannot be accommodated using one lane of the bridge due its weight &/or wider width, under the premise that its gross weight is less than or equal to 25 tonnes.
• Vehicles measuring in excess of 2.3 meters or 8 feet in width including any projections on either side shall not be allowed to transit the Bridge without permission of the Bridge Manager. Such vehicles must stop and seek permission prior to accessing the scale.
• Permission is required for towing of vehicles on the Bridge. A solid tow-bar must be used to attach the two (2) vehicles which must be inspected and approved by DHBC prior to the vehicles being allowed to transit the bridge.
• Speed limit on the Bridge is 32 kilometers or 20 miles per hour.
• No defacing of Company Property.
• No damage to Company Property.

Marine Traffic

All Masters, Owners and/or Agents of Marine Vessels shall comply with the following regulations:

• The master of any vessel requiring the retractor spans of the Bridge to be opened shall communicate by radio, telephone or in writing to the Bridge Manager at least 36 hours in advance of the expected transit to inform him of his request to pass through the Bridge, including time of intended passage and other relevant particulars of the vessel.
• The master of any Foreign vessel requiring to pass under the high span or through the retractor spans shall do so using local licensed Pilots.
• Before proceeding into the “Bridge Zone”, the master of the vessel shall, on reaching the limits on either side of the “Bridge Zone”, raise the Bridge Manager on Very High Frequency radio on channel sixteen (16) (156.8 MHz) and maintain radio contact with him until the vessel is finally cleared through the Bridge.
• When the Bridge is opened, notice shall be given to the vessel which shall then proceed into the “Bridge Zone” and transit.
• Masters of all vessels shall, before passing the northern and southern limits of the “Bridge Zone”, ascertain by visual observation, radio communication or other means that the Bridge is open.
• Shallow draught vessels with vertical clearance in excess of 7.3 meters or 24 feet, that is to say, measuring from the waterline to the uppermost projections of the vessels which cannot transit the high level span, shall be allowed to transit the retractor span.