---
kind: "range"
citation: "33 U.S.C. §§ 491–494"
title: "33"
from: "491"
to: "494"
count: 4
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/491..494"
---

# §491. Approval of and deviation from plans; exemptions


When, after March 23, 1906, authority is granted by Congress to any persons to construct and maintain a bridge across or over any of the navigable waters of the United States, such bridge shall not be built or commenced until the plans and specifications for its [construction](/usc/33/426e.md?p=c), together with such drawings of the proposed [construction](/usc/33/426e.md?p=c) and such map of the proposed location as may be required for a full understanding of the subject, have been submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating for the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2)’s approval, nor until the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) shall have approved such plans and specifications and the location of such bridge and accessory works; and when the plans for any bridge to be constructed under the provisions of sections [491 to 494](/usc/33/491..494.md) and [495 to 498](/usc/33/495..498.md) of this title, have been approved by the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) it shall not be lawful to deviate from such plans, either before or after completion of the structure, unless the modification of such plans has previously been submitted to and received the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2). This section 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.


# §492. Bridge as post route; limitation as to charges against Government; telegraph and telephone lines


Any bridge built in accordance with the provisions of sections [491 to 494](/usc/33/491..494.md) and [495 to 498](/usc/33/495..498.md) of this title, shall be a lawful structure and shall be recognized and known as a post route, upon which no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over any railroad, street railway, or public highway leading to said bridge; and the United States shall have the right to construct, maintain, and repair, without any charge therefor, telegraph and telephone lines across and upon said bridge and its approaches; and equal privileges in the use of said bridge and its approaches shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies.


# §493. Use of railroad bridges by other railroad companies


All railroad companies desiring the use of any railroad bridge built in accordance with the provisions of sections [491 to 494](/usc/33/491..494.md) and [495 to 498](/usc/33/495..498.md) of this title, shall be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains or cars over the same and over the approaches thereto upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case of any disagreement between the parties in regard to the terms of such use or the sums to be paid all matters at issue shall be determined by the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) of Transportation upon hearing the allegations and proofs submitted to him.


# §494. Obstruction of navigation; alterations and removals; lights and signals; draws


No bridge erected or maintained under the provisions of sections [491 to 494](/usc/33/491..494.md) and [495 to 498](/usc/33/495..498.md) of this title, shall at any time unreasonably obstruct the free navigation of the waters over which it is constructed, and if any bridge erected in accordance with the provisions of said sections, shall, in the opinion of the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating at any time unreasonably obstruct such navigation, either on account of insufficient height, width of span, or otherwise, or if there be difficulty in passing the draw opening or the drawspan of such bridge by rafts, steamboats, or other water craft, it shall be the duty of the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating after giving the parties interested reasonable opportunity to be heard, to notify the persons owning or controlling such bridge to so alter the same as to render navigation through or under it reasonably free, easy, and unobstructed, stating in such notice the changes required to be made, and prescribing in each case a reasonable time in which to make such changes, and if at the end of the time so specified the changes so required have not been made, the persons owning or controlling such bridge shall be deemed guilty of a violation of said sections; and all such alterations shall be made and all such obstructions shall be removed at the expense of the persons owning or operating said bridge. The persons owning or operating any such bridge shall maintain, at their own expense, such lights and other signals thereon as the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall prescribe. If the bridge shall be constructed with a draw, then the draw shall be opened promptly by the persons owning or operating such bridge upon reasonable signal for the passage of boats and other water craft.