Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73
§532 Eminent domain
Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 11— - BRIDGES OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - GENERAL BRIDGE AUTHORITY › § 532
Summary
Gives any person, company, or government allowed to build a bridge between states the power to enter, buy, or legally take land and other property in the states where the bridge and its approaches are needed. They can use the property like railroads or bridge companies do, but must pay fair value under that state's laws and follow that state's legal process for taking property.
Full Legal Text
Title 33, §532
Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
There are conferred upon any individual, his heirs, legal representatives, or assigns, any firm or corporation, its successors or assigns, or any State, political subdivision, or municipality authorized in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter to build a bridge between two or more States, all such rights and powers to enter upon lands and acquire, condemn, occupy, possess, and use real estate and other property in the respective States needed for the location, construction, operation, and maintenance of such bridge and its approaches, as are possessed by railroad corporations for railroad purposes or by bridge corporations for bridge purposes in the State in which such real estate or other property is situated, upon making just compensation therefor to be ascertained and paid according to the laws of such State, and the proceedings therefor shall be the same as in the condemnation or expropriation of property for public purposes in such State.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
33 U.S.C. § 532
Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73