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Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-102

§491 Approval of and Deviation From Plans; Exemptions

Title 33 › CHAPTER 11 — BRIDGES OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 491

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

When Congress gives permission after March 23, 1906, to build a bridge over navigable U.S. waters, the builder must first give detailed plans, drawings, and a map of the site to the Secretary who runs the Coast Guard and get the Secretary’s approval. No building may start until the Secretary approves the plans and the location. After the Secretary approves plans for bridges covered by the related bridge laws, the builder must not change those plans before or after construction unless the Secretary approves the changes first. The rule does not apply to bridges over waters that do not have tides and are not and cannot reasonably be used to carry interstate or foreign commerce.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §491

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

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, together with such drawings of the proposed construction and such map of the proposed location as may be required for a full understanding of the subject, have been submitted to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating for the Secretary’s approval, nor until the Secretary 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 and 495 to 498 of this title, have been approved by the Secretary 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. 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.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Pub. L. 114–120 substituted “Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating” for “Secretary of Transportation”. 1984—Pub. L. 98–557 substituted “for the Secretary’s approval, nor until the Secretary” for “and Chief of Engineers for their approval, nor until they” and struck out “by the Chief of Engineers and” after “have been approved”, “of the Chief of Engineers and” after “received the approval”, and “of Transportation” after “by the Secretary” and after “of the Secretary”. 1983—Pub. L. 97–449 substituted “Secretary of Transportation” for “Secretary of War” wherever appearing. See

Transfer of Functions

note below. 1982—Pub. L. 97–322 inserted sentence at end relating to exemption.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Sections 491 to 494 and 495 to 498 of this title are popularly known as the “Bridge Act of 1906” and the “General Bridge Act of 1906”.

Transfer of Functions

Functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of the Army [formerly War] and other offices and officers of Department of the Army [formerly War] under this section to extent that they relate generally to location and clearances of bridges and causeways in navigable waters of United States transferred to and vested in Secretary of Transportation by Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(g)(6)(B), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 941. Pub. L. 97–449 amended this section to reflect transfer made by section 6(g)(6)(B) of Pub. L. 89–670, and repealed section 6(g)(6)(B).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 491

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102