Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 1943 )

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OFFICE OF THE AYTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS
AUSTIN
Hoonorabla3. C, Creer
State EilghrayZngirreer
Texas i?.l&wayDsjmrtme.nt
:ru.9tin,
Tex3s
Dear 3ir:
*hers&n yea atat
national brid bs built a;t~Iaredo,
35Xas, as a j ds from the UnSted States
Iiuhway Cepartmklt ruoas,
0. You i-a~uestan opiacon
3htion tptwtfirst be
s te@&xturs bafora the
ertaks thla projetit.
ode Lb a narlgable streatn( 13rownsrille
Bridge Comfy va. Gateway Bridgs
% ) and, or course, it dues not 'lie.
of the 3tst.eOS Texas. Pefore'a
eross sit&ha waterway, ths cogsent of
e obtains&, and the plans thereior mat
epgroved by the Chief,Ol l&ngineere 8nd
r by the Sccretafg ~cfWAS. 30 Stat. 1151, 33 If.6. C. 4. sea 401;
S-4Stat. 64, 83 U. 3. C. A. aecs. 491 et 5eQ. 3ee Internzltionsl
flridge Company vs. BiewYork, 2% CT.S. 123, ,05 L. H. 176,
holding that the provielana of these statutes a~gly to in&w-
rutfonel brid&es. See also Eagle -3ssrand 2. t;l.
Brld~e
Co&&pp vs. &lores-Coahufls 3ridge Coquq (Clv. A?P.), 279
&"‘$.;
:g3,,writ reicuaed,end 'Bro~tnsvll:eand ~%txnoroa
Yuiaiaipai3ridga Cbia~any05. Gateway DriCge Coqmny, supa.
The Texas Lagistititrehas vested glenar3 ?o*er
and authority in tha Texas Ei&way Ee~rtnent to ilesisate,
control and aintain State hi&ways. Articles 3673, et.aeq.,
v..jb.cr 3,; BObblllavs. Lbeato2e Ccuslty,114 Texas 343,
208 3. ‘8.913; HmthtaJa vs. S~l6tarp ( Corn.App. ) 12 ti.x
&ad., 150. As usad in the 8tatutay authorizationths.tana
%i&aways* inoludes *bridgeam. Artl0l.Ga074-i%,v. A. c. A.;
A.rnnsas Co;mSy vs. fkdman, 1C8 Ter. 216. Yurther, the
&@ieidwe ha& authorized the A&$muy DeijartmmItt0 hIpl?OvQ
the Zitatohi&ma3 s3stela~5th Federal aid.. HrtLolas 66746,
W?M-1, 6674s. v. ii.C. J.
Ws am infamed that the Laredo bri?lae approach fork
a beginning and CerzaiualBlnt for State dasignated highways
81 and.33. Conaeqaently, in vfew of the broad authority
given the State iilgiway Degartsmnt by t&e Le&gislatu.?ze over
tke Constructionand zaaint4nanee OS deeigmtrd Stats hi@-
ways it is our opinicrnthat sSeeiai stete legislation
authorisifn~the IZighwayDepartment to cooperate with tie
lktderalGovwnm#t and the Republ$c of 2esxico'
Xntha aon-
struot%om of:sn international bridiJeat Lam&o 1s urraaoesa~y.
WI have a&aladl .yonthat the consent of Con5es5
mast be obtained and the plms must be submitted for approval
to the Chief of ~glneera and the Seoretfiry``f 'csr. We also
edviue 300~that the aoezsent of the X4xl4an governaan% must
be obtained heTore the projeat amy be begun4 The steps
neoeatmry to seewe that coaeent and the tear aad ePCeet
of any treaty grovisioaa ozkthe subjfmt ere, ct conrse,
gd.ltIoal ~ue~tion`` whio,b~3% be answered on13 by the State
Dagartm4nt. titer congress has 3u+%orhsd cb0 l3trlleture ana
t%a plans ba?e been approrsd,by the Chief of %glneers and
the saw&iiry or.Nir, inquirp should be .*ade02 the'3tete
.Departjantas tc.ahether gr not the (Pnsent of the ~exioan
cbssrareat bee been obtalneL
, yours very truly,