Pennsylvania Act 1943-369 — BRIDGE, CONSTRUCTION OF AUTHORIZED

Act text

BRIDGE, CONSTRUCTION OF AUTHORIZED
                  Act of Jun. 4, 1943, P.L. 883, No. 369              Cl. 36
                                  AN ACT

     Authorizing and directing the Department of Highways to erect
        and maintain, as a post war construction project, a toll
        bridge over the Allegheny River between a point in or near
        the Borough of Tarentum, Allegheny County, and a point in
        Westmoreland County, and to provide the necessary approaches
        and connections with State highways; providing for the
        acceptance of Federal aid; empowering counties to pay certain
        damages; providing for the collection of tolls on such
        bridge; and making an appropriation.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  The Department of Highways is hereby authorized
     and directed to erect and construct a toll bridge over the
     Allegheny River from a convenient point in or near the Borough
     of Tarentum in Allegheny County, to a point on the opposite side
     of said river in the County of Westmoreland, to connect the
     State highways on both sides of said river and to acquire the
     necessary land for approaches thereto.
        In the construction of said bridge and the approaches thereto
     and connections with existing State highways, the Department of
     Highways shall have, with the approval of the counties
     affected,--namely, Westmoreland and Allegheny, all of the powers
     and authority conferred, with respect to the relocation,
     widening or construction of State highways, including the
     exercise of the power of eminent domain. Any damages sustained
     by reason of taking property in the relocation, widening or
     construction of any such bridge, the approaches thereto and
     connections with State highways, shall be ascertained in
     accordance with laws applicable to the ascertainment of damages
     in relocating, widening or constructing State highways, and such
     damages, when ascertained, shall be paid by the Commonwealth or
     county or counties as may be agreed upon in accordance with the
     laws relating to State highways.
        Section 2.  The Department of Highways is hereby authorized
     to accept grants of funds from any Federal agency for the
     construction of such bridge and the approaches thereto, and
     connections with State highways. Any such moneys shall be held
     by the State Treasurer, as custodian for the Department of
     Highways, and the same shall be paid out on requisition of the
     department without further appropriation.
        Section 3.  If such bridge is to be constructed under
     contract and to be paid for wholly or in part from Federal
     funds, and the project involves additional work to be contracted
     and paid for by a county or counties, the advertisement by the
     Department of Highways shall be the only advertising necessary,
     any other acts or requirements to the contrary notwithstanding.
        Section 4.  The Department of Highways shall have authority
     to make and carry out contracts and to do every other act
     necessary to carry out the project herein authorized, and is
     authorized to conform to the requirements and rules and
     regulations of the proper Federal authorities with respect to
     such projects, if Federal moneys are advanced for such project.
     Nothing herein contained shall in anywise diminish any authority
     or powers now or hereafter conferred on the Department of
     Highways by any other act of Assembly.
        Section 5.  The construction of the bridge, for which funds
     are appropriated by this act, shall be included among the
     various public works projects to be undertaken by the
     Commonwealth after the termination of the present war, as a
     means of facilitating the transition from a war to a peace
     economy.
        Section 6.  After the effective date of this amending act,
     the bridge and its approaches and connecting highways shall be
     maintained by the Department of Highways, free of tolls, for the
     use of the public. Any moneys advanced by the Commonwealth, the
     Federal Government or any agency thereof, or advanced or paid by
     any county, which have not heretofore been paid, shall be paid
     out of the Motor License Fund. As much of the moneys in the
     Motor License Fund as are necessary therefor are hereby
     appropriated to the Department of Highways for this purpose.
        (6 amended July 18, 1961, P.L.783, No. 344)
        Section 7.  The sum of four million five hundred thousand
     dollars ($4,500,000) or so much as is necessary for the
     preparation of plans for the construction of said bridge and
     approaches thereto and connections with State highways and for
     the payment of damages for property taken or destroyed, and for
     the construction of said bridge and approaches thereto, is
     hereby appropriated out of moneys in the Motor License Fund to
     the Department of Highways for said purposes.
        (7 amended May 9, 1949, P.L.985, No.286)