Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-102
§492 Bridge as Post Route; Limitation as to Charges Against Government; Telegraph and Telephone Lines
Title 33 › CHAPTER 11 — BRIDGES OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 492
Summary
Bridges built under sections 491–498 are official post routes. The United States pays no more per mile to carry mail, troops, or munitions across them than railroads or highways. The United States may install, maintain, and repair telegraph and telephone lines on the bridge and its approaches at no charge, and all telegraph and telephone companies must have equal access.
Full Legal Text
Title 33, §492
Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Any bridge built in accordance with the provisions of sections 491 to 494 and 495 to 498 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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
33 U.S.C. § 492
Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102