§ 66 — Restrictions on the construction of farm and road bridges

§ 66. Restrictions on the construction of farm and road bridges. A\nperson shall not be entitled to demand a farm bridge across a canal or\nfeeder where the necessity of convenience of such bridge shall have\narisen from the division or acquisition of property subsequent to the\nlocation of such canal or feeder. A street or road bridge shall not be\nconstructed by the commissioner of transportation over a canal or\nfeeder, except upon such streets or roads as were laid out, worked or\nused, previously to the construction of the canal or feeder, by which\nsuch street or road is obstructed; and when bridges are constructed or\nreconstructed upon any such streets or roads, the cost to the state\nshall in no case be more than is required to preserve in a safe and\nsubstantial manner the continuity of such streets or roads so as not to\nunnecessarily impair their usefulness. When a bridge of a more costly\nnature is desired by the local authorities of a city, town or village\nwithin whose corporate limits a bridge is to be built or rebuilt, the\ncommissioner of transportation, on presentation to him by such local\nauthorities of plans and specifications for such bridge and approval\nthereof by him shall estimate and determine the proportion of the cost,\nwhich, in order to preserve the continuity of such streets and roads,\nthe state ought equitably to pay, and file such estimate and\ndetermination in his office and a duplicate thereof in the office of the\nclerk of such city, town or village. If a private road or public highway\nis laid out by legal authority in such direction as to require the\nerection of a new bridge over a canal for the accommodation of the road,\nsuch bridge shall be so constructed and forever maintained at the\nexpense of the town, village or city in which it shall be situated.\n