BRIDGES AND NAVIGATION INTERESTS

The growth of inland waterways traffic and the introduction of larger barges, tow boats and tows have complicated operations through railroad drawbridges built for packet boats. The law requires the bridge owner to provide for the safe, prompt and efficient passage of vessels through the draw. The Coast Guard is charged with assuring that railroad bridges never unreasonably interfere with navigation. It is emphasized that the fundamental law is not that navigation of a stream is not a matter of economics with engineering considerations, but of public right. It is the Federal position that protection cells and similar structures are appurtenances of the bridge and are the responsibility of the bridge owner, except under provisions of the Truman-Hobbs Act.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of the Seventy-Ninth Annual Convention of the American Railway Bridge & Building Association held at Chicago, Illinois, October 1-3, 1974.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Bridge & Building Association

  18154 Harwood Avenue
  Homewood, IL  United States  60430
• Authors:
  • Thoroughman, S W
• Publication Date: 1974-10

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 55-58
• Serial:
  • Publication of: American Railway Bridge & Building Association
  • Publisher: American Railway Bridge & Building Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Drawbridges; Inland waterways; Maintenance; Policy
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge maintenance
• Old TRIS Terms: Government policies
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Maintenance and Preservation; Policy; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00096568
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 24 2000 12:00AM