§ 8-16-1-2 — Power and authority; "bridge" defined

(a) The authority is authorized and empowered
to construct, to acquire by purchase or otherwise, or to condemn in the
manner prescribed by IC 8-23-7 highway bridges and the approaches
thereto over and across any river or stream forming the boundary
between Indiana and any adjoining state whenever the bridge or any
part thereof or the approach thereto will extend within Indiana, and to
enlarge, extend and improve such bridges. This chapter shall apply
although such river may be located either partially or solely within the
territorial limits of such adjoining state.
(b) The authority is further authorized and empowered to construct
toll roads or highways, together with such approaches, avenues of
access, fills, causeways, connecting bridges, or ferries, as shall be
necessary, appurtenant, or incidental to such bridge, ferry, or ferries,
from or to any place or places within the state of Indiana, or to places
in adjoining states, and to enlarge, extend, and improve such toll roads
or highways. Any toll road or highway shall be deemed to be necessary,
appurtenant, or incidental to such bridge if it connects any such bridge
with either a federal interstate highway, a federal highway, or a state
highway, or any one (1) or more of such highways. Said toll roads or
highways may be constructed:
(1) as separate projects or as combined projects; or
(2) in conjunction with the construction or acquisition of an
interstate bridge or bridges authorized by this chapter, as a
combined project.
(c) The authority may enter into agreements with the department for
the construction or operation or maintenance of any such necessary,
appurtenant, or incidental toll road or highway.
(d) The authority may enter into contracts or agreements with the
department and any combination of the appropriate departments of any
other states, whereby the department will assume the control,
management, maintenance, upkeep and repair of any bridge, as defined
in this section, and levy and collect tolls for the use thereof, whenever:
(1) any such bridge has been constructed by an agency of the state
or an agency of the state as a joint project with any other state or
states; and
(2) such bridge has been constructed by participation with the
federal government under such terms as shall permit the state or
states to recover its contribution of the cost of the bridge by the
collection of tolls for the use thereof.
(e) The authority may also provide in such contracts or agreements
as provided in subsection (d) to:
(1) retain from the tolls so collected an amount sufficient to cover
its administrative costs, the costs of the repair, maintenance, and
upkeep of the bridge; and
(2) pay the remainder of the tolls to the participating states as
reimbursement of their contribution of the cost of the bridge.
(f) Whenever the term "bridge" is used in this chapter, said term
shall mean such interstate bridges or such toll roads or highways
severally as separate projects or collectively to any two (2) or more of
such interstate bridges or toll roads or highways as combined projects.
All of the provisions of this chapter relating to bridges shall apply fully
to such interstate bridges or such toll roads or highways as separate
projects or to any combination of two (2) or more of such interstate
bridges or toll roads or highways as combined projects. However, any
engineers appointed or employed in connection with any toll roads or
highways shall be designated by the authority or department subject to
such approval of the purchasers of any revenue bonds issued pursuant
to this chapter as may be provided in the proceedings authorizing the
issuance of such revenue bonds.
Formerly: Acts 1939, c.79, s.2; Acts 1941, c.217, s.1; Acts
1951, c.296, s.1; Acts 1959, c.191, s.1; Acts 1971, P.L.100, SEC.1. As
amended by Acts 1980, P.L.74, SEC.261; P.L.109-1983, SEC.32;
P.L.18-1990, SEC.144.