§ 13a-54 — Abandonment of highway for construction of dam.

Any person or corporation engaged in constructing, raising or operating a dam for milling, manufacturing or power purposes, which dam will flood or cause to be flooded any highway, may abandon so much of such highway as may be advisable or necessary, upon such terms and conditions as are agreed upon by such person or corporation and the party or parties liable to maintain the same, which agreement shall be in writing and shall be recorded in the town clerk's office in the town or towns where such highway or any portion thereof so to be abandoned is situated, and shall be sufficient authority for the person or corporation constructing, raising or operating such dam to continue the construction, raising or operation thereof and to flood such highway so to be abandoned. If the above parties fail to agree upon the abandonment of any such highway or any portion thereof, the person or corporation constructing, raising or operating such dam may prefer a complaint against such other party or parties to the superior court of any judicial district wherein any portion of such highway is located or to any judge of the superior court for permission to continue to construct, raise or operate such dam and for the abandonment of such highway or any portion thereof. Said court or such judge may grant such person or corporation such permission and order the abandonment of such highway or any portion thereof, upon payment to the party or parties liable to maintain such highway of such damages as said court or such judge may adjudge or when such person or corporation complies with such other terms as said court or such judge may order. When such person or corporation pays such damages or gives bond with surety to the satisfaction of said court or such judge that such person or corporation will comply with such terms, the flooding of such highway by means of such dam shall not be deemed a common nuisance. See Sec. 13a-72 re alteration or relocation of highway for dam construction. See Sec. 52-446 re procedures for flowage petitions.

Legislative History

(1949 Rev., S. 2135; 1958 Rev., S. 13-19; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 54; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127.) History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; P.A. 78-280 substituted “judicial district” for “county”. Statute is constitutional. 95 C. 95. Cited. 158 C. 280.