PRIA Logo™
Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-102

§511 Definitions

Title 33 › CHAPTER 11 — BRIDGES OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS › SUBCHAPTER II — ALTERATION OF BRIDGES › § 511

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used here. Alteration means any change, rebuild, or removal, whole or partial. Bridge means a lawful bridge over navigable U.S. waters, including approaches, used for railroad or railroad-and-highway traffic, or a government-owned highway bridge. Bridge owner means any owner or anyone with title or control, such as trustees (including bankruptcy), receivers, or lessees. Secretary means the head of the department running the Coast Guard; United States includes Territories and possessions.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §511

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

When used in this subchapter, unless the context indicates otherwise— The term “alteration” includes changes of any kind, reconstruction, or removal in whole or in part. The term “bridge” means a lawful bridge over navigable waters of the United States, including approaches, fenders, and appurtenances thereto, which is used and operated for the purpose of carrying railroad traffic, or both railroad and highway traffic, or if a State, county, municipality, or other political subdivision is the owner or joint owner thereof, which is used and operated for the purpose of carrying highway traffic. The term “bridge owner” means any State, county, municipality, or other political subdivision, or any corporation, association, partnership, or individual owning, or jointly owning, any bridge, and, when any bridge shall be in the possession or under the control of any trustee, receiver, trustee in a case under title 11, or lessee, such terms shall include both the owner of the legal title and the person or the entity in possession or control of such bridge. The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. The term “United States”, when used in a geographical sense, includes the Territories and possessions of the United States.

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”. 1983—Pub. L. 97–449 substituted provision that the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Transportation for provision that it meant the Secretary of War acting directly or through the Chief of Engineers. 1978—Pub. L. 95–598 substituted in definition of “bridge owner” the phrase “trustee in a case under title 11” for “trustee in bankruptcy”. 1952—Act of July 16, 1952, redefined “bridge” and “bridge owner”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–598 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 402(a) of Pub. L. 95–598, set out as an

Effective Date

s note preceding section 101 of Title 11, Bankruptcy.

Short Title

Sections 511 to 523 of this title are popularly known as the “Hobbs Bridge Act” and also as the “Truman-Hobbs Act”.

Transfer of Functions

section 6(g)(3) of Pub. L. 89–670 transferred functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of the Army [formerly War] and other officers and offices of Department of the Army [formerly War] relating to obstructive bridges under this subchapter to Secretary of Transportation. Pub. L. 97–449 amended this section to reflect transfer made by section 6(g)(3) of Pub. L. 89–670, and repealed section 6(g)(3).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 511

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102