Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-102

§532 Eminent Domain

Title 33 › CHAPTER 11 — BRIDGES OVER NAVIGABLE WATERS › SUBCHAPTER III — GENERAL BRIDGE AUTHORITY › § 532

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Any person or company (including heirs, successors, or assigns), or any State or local government authorized under this subchapter to build a bridge between two or more States, may enter and take or use land and other property in those States needed to site, build, operate, and maintain the bridge and its approaches, with the same powers given to railroad or bridge companies in the State where the property sits. They must pay fair compensation under that State’s laws and follow that State’s usual condemnation process.

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

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102