33 U.S.C. § 525 | Construction and operation of bridges

(a)

Consent of Congress

The consent of Congress is granted for the construction, maintenance, and operation of bridges and approaches thereto over the navigable waters of the United States, in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.

(b)

Approval of plans

The location and plans for such bridges shall be approved by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating before construction is commenced, and, in approving the location and plans of any bridge, the Secretary may impose any specific conditions relating to the maintenance and operation of the structure which the Secretary may deem necessary in the interest of public navigation, and the conditions so imposed shall have the force of law. This subsection shall not apply to any bridge over waters which are not subject to the ebb and flow of the tide and which are not used and are not susceptible to use in their natural condition or by reasonable improvement as a means to transport interstate or foreign commerce.

(c)

Private highway toll bridges

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), it shall be unlawful to construct or commence the construction of any privately owned highway toll bridge until the location and plans thereof shall also have been submitted to and approved by the highway department or departments of the State or States in which the bridge and its approaches are situated; and where such bridge shall be between two or more States and the highway departments thereof shall be unable to agree upon the location and plans therefor, or if they, or either of them, shall fail or refuse to act upon the location and plans submitted, such location and plans then shall be submitted to the Secretary of Transportation and, if approved by the Secretary of Transportation, approval by the highway departments shall not be required.

Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753 60 Stat. 847 June 30, 1949, ch. 288 63 Stat. 380Aug. 19, 194963 Stat. 1070 Pub. L. 97–322, title I, § 107(a)Oct. 15, 198296 Stat. 1582 Pub. L. 97–449, § 2(d)(1)Jan. 12, 198396 Stat. 2440 Pub. L. 98–557, § 17(g)(2)Oct. 30, 198498 Stat. 2869 Pub. L. 114–120, title III, § 306(b)(5)(A)Feb. 8, 2016130 Stat. 55(, title V, § 502, ; , title I, § 103(a), ; 1949 Reorg. Plan No. 7, § 1, eff. , 14 F.R. 5288, ; , , ; , (3), , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 114–1202016—Subsec. (b). substituted “Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating” for “Secretary of Transportation”.

Pub. L. 98–5571984—Subsec. (b). struck out “the Chief of Engineers and” before “the Secretary of Transportation” and substituted “the Secretary” for “they” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 97–449, § 2(d)(1)1983—Subsec. (b). , substituted “Secretary of Transportation” for “Secretary of War”. See Transfer of Functions note below.

Pub. L. 97–449, § 2(d)(3)Subsec. (c). , substituted “Secretary of Transportation” for “Public Roads Administration” wherever appearing. See Transfer of Functions note below.

Pub. L. 97–3221982—Subsec. (b). inserted exemption provision at end.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Aug. 2, 1946

“This title [enacting this subchapter] may be cited as the ‘General Bridge Act of 1946’.”

Section 501 of title V of act , provided that:

Reservation of Right To Alter, Amend, or Repeal

Aug. 2, 1946

“The right to alter, amend, or repeal this title [this subchapter] is hereby expressly reserved as to any and all bridges which may be built under authority hereof.”

Section 511 of title V of act , provided that:

Transfer of Functions

section 6(g)(6)(C) of Pub. L. 89–670 Pub. L. 97–449 section 6(g)(6)(C) of Pub. L. 89–670Functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of the Army [formerly War] and other offices and officers of Department of the Army [formerly War] under this section to extent that they relate generally to location and clearances of bridges and causeways in navigable waters of United States transferred to and vested in Secretary of Transportation by . amended this section to reflect transfer made by , and repealed section 6(g)(6)(C).

June 30, 1949section 303(b) of Title 40 Section 303(b) of Title 40 Pub. L. 109–313, § 2(a)(1)Oct. 6, 2006120 Stat. 1734 section 303 of Title 40Functions of Public Roads Administration transferred to Bureau of Public Roads within General Services Administration by section 103(a) of act . See Historical and Revision Notes under , Public Buildings, Property, and Works. was amended generally by , , , and, as so amended, no longer relates to the Federal Works Agency and Commissioner of Public Buildings. See 2006 Amendment note under .

section 6(g)(6)(C) of Pub. L. 89–670 Pub. L. 97–449 section 6(g)(6)(C) of Pub. L. 89–670Functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of Commerce and other offices and officers of Department of Commerce under subsec. (c) of this section relating generally to highways transferred to and vested in Secretary of Transportation by . amended this section to reflect transfer made by , and repealed section 6(g)(6)(C).

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Bureau of Public Roads within General Services Administration transferred to Department of Commerce by section 1 of Reorg. Plan No. 7 of 1949.

May 24, 195064 Stat. 1263For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Commerce, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Commerce, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. , 15 F.R. 3174, , set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.