Highways Act 1980

93 Power to make orders as to reconstruction, improvement, etc., of privately maintainable bridges

(1) If the owners of a bridge to which this section applies or a local highway authority entitled by virtue of section 95 below to exercise with respect to such a bridge the powers conferred by this section consider—

(a) that the bridge is or may be, by reason of its construction, position, or state of repair, dangerous or unsuitable for the requirements of road traffic as then existing or the expected development thereof, or

(b) that the responsibility for the maintenance and improvement of the highway carried by the bridge or of the approaches to it should for any reason be transferred from the owners to a highway authority,

the owners or the authority may apply to the Minister for an order to provide for the reconstruction, improvement or maintenance of the bridge, or of the highway carried by the bridge, or of the approaches to the bridge.

(2) Where an application is made to the Minister under subsection (1) above, he may, subject to the provisions of this section, make an order under this section, but before making such an order he shall consult the owners of the bridge and every local highway authority entitled to exercise with respect to it the powers conferred by this section, and if either the owners or any such local highway authority request him so to do shall hold an inquiry.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Minister may by an order made under this section—

(a) require the execution, either by the owners or by a highway authority, of such works of reconstruction or improvement as may be specified in the order;

(b) determine and direct by whom the bridge, the highway carried by the bridge and the approaches to the bridge are to be maintained ;

(c) provide for the transfer to and vesting in a highway authority of the property in the bridge, or the highway carried by the bridge, or the approaches to the bridge, and of all or any rights and obligations attaching to the bridge, or to such highway or approaches;

(d) in the case of a swing bridge, determine and direct by whom and in what manner it is to be operated;

(e) modify, so far as he considers necessary for giving effect to the order, any statutory provisions applicable to the bridge other than the provisions of a public general Act;

(f) make such incidental, consequential and supplementary provisions, including provisions authorising the owners of the bridge or a highway authority to construct works which are necessary to enable them to comply with a requirement or direction contained in the order, as may appear to him to be necessary or proper for the purposes of the order.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Minister may, on his own initiative and without any application under subsection (1) above, make an order under this section with respect to a trunk road bridge if, on such grounds as are referred to in subsection (1) above, it seems to him fit and proper so to do; but, before making such an order, he shall consult the owners of the bridge (unless after diligent inquiry their names and addresses cannot be ascertained), and, if the owners request him so to do, shall hold an inquiry.

(5) In relation to an order made under this section with respect to a trunk road bridge, subsection (3)(c) above has effect with the substitution, for the reference to a highway authority, of a reference to the Minister.

(6) Subject to section 95(9) below, this section applies to any bridge (other than a highway maintainable at the public expense) which carries a highway consisting of or comprising a carriageway over a railway, over a canal, river, creek, watercourse, marsh or other place where water flows or is collected or over a ravine or other depression, other than a bridge to which a right to levy tolls is attached.

(7) Schedule 11 to this Act has effect in relation to the making and carrying out of orders under this section.