Transfer of railroad bridges

Transfer of railroad bridges. (a) The Department of Natural Resources hereby is authorized, at any time before the acceptance of title to the Canal as provided in Section 3 of this Act, to enter into an agreement with any corporation owning a railroad which crosses a bridge over the Canal, providing for (1) a request by both parties to the Secretary of the Army for a conveyance to the said corporation of all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to such bridge; (2) a further request (at the discretion of said corporation) by both parties to the Secretary of the Army, for permission to said corporation to replace such bridge with a land fill, making adequate provision for culverts and other structures allowing passage of the waters of the Canal and necessary drainage, and for right-of-way for necessary and appropriate road crossings; (3) the assumption by said corporation, upon delivery of such conveyance, of all obligation to maintain said bridge and any land fill which may replace the same, and any culverts or other structures and road crossings appurtenant to such fill; and (4) an agreement by said corporation to hold the United States and the State safe and harmless from any and all claims arising out of the construction, reconstruction, repair, and maintenance of such bridge, land fill, culverts or other structures, and road crossings. (b) The Department of Natural Resources further is authorized, after the acceptance of title to the Canal as provided in Section 3 of this Act, to enter into an agreement with any corporation owning a railroad which crosses a bridge over the Canal and which corporation has not obtained title to such bridge as provided in Subsection (a) of this Section, which agreement shall provide for (1) the conveyance to the said corporation of all right, title, and interest of the State in and to such bridge; (2) the replacement (at the discretion of the said corporation) of such bridge with a land fill, making adequate provision for culverts and other structures allowing passage of the waters of the Canal and for necessary drainage, and for rights-of-way for necessary and appropriate road crossings; (3) the assumption by said corporation of all obligation to maintain the said bridge and any land fill which may replace the same, and any culverts or other structures and road crossings appurtenant to such fill; and (4) an agreement by said corporation to hold the State safe and harmless from any and all claims arising out of the construction, reconstruction, repair, and maintenance of such bridge, land fill, culverts or other structures, and road crossings. (c) The Department of Natural Resources is authorized to execute, on behalf of the State, all conveyances and other documents necessary and appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this Section. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)