Sec. 2. (a) The authority is authorized and empowered to construct, to acquire by purchase or otherwise, or to condemn in the manner prescribed by IC 8-23-7 highway bridges and the approaches thereto over and across any river or stream forming the boundary between Indiana and any adjoining state whenever the bridge or any part thereof or the approach thereto will extend within Indiana, and to enlarge, extend and improve such bridges. This chapter shall apply although such river may be located either partially or solely within the territorial limits of such adjoining state.

(b) The authority is further authorized and empowered to construct toll roads or highways, together with such approaches, avenues of access, fills, causeways, connecting bridges, or ferries, as shall be necessary, appurtenant, or incidental to such bridge, ferry, or ferries, from or to any place or places within the state of Indiana, or to places in adjoining states, and to enlarge, extend, and improve such toll roads or highways. Any toll road or highway shall be deemed to be necessary, appurtenant, or incidental to such bridge if it connects any such bridge with either a federal interstate highway, a federal highway, or a state highway, or any one (1) or more of such highways. Said toll roads or highways may be constructed:

(1) as separate projects or as combined projects; or

(2) in conjunction with the construction or acquisition of an interstate bridge or bridges authorized by this chapter, as a combined project.

(c) The authority may enter into agreements with the department for the construction or operation or maintenance of any such necessary, appurtenant, or incidental toll road or highway.

(d) The authority may enter into contracts or agreements with the department and any combination of the appropriate departments of any other states, whereby the department will assume the control, management, maintenance, upkeep and repair of any bridge, as defined in this section, and levy and collect tolls for the use thereof, whenever:

(1) any such bridge has been constructed by an agency of the state or an agency of the state as a joint project with any other state or states; and

(2) such bridge has been constructed by participation with the federal government under such terms as shall permit the state or states to recover its contribution of the cost of the bridge by the collection of tolls for the use thereof.

(e) The authority may also provide in such contracts or agreements as provided in subsection (d) to:

(1) retain from the tolls so collected an amount sufficient to cover its administrative costs, the costs of the repair, maintenance, and upkeep of the bridge; and

(2) pay the remainder of the tolls to the participating states as reimbursement of their contribution of the cost of the bridge.

(f) Whenever the term "bridge" is used in this chapter, said term shall mean such interstate bridges or such toll roads or highways severally as separate projects or collectively to any two (2) or more of such interstate bridges or toll roads or highways as combined projects. All of the provisions of this chapter relating to bridges shall apply fully to such interstate bridges or such toll roads or highways as separate projects or to any combination of two (2) or more of such interstate bridges or toll roads or highways as combined projects. However, any engineers appointed or employed in connection with any toll roads or highways shall be designated by the authority or department subject to such approval of the purchasers of any revenue bonds issued pursuant to this chapter as may be provided in the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such revenue bonds.

Formerly: Acts 1939, c.79, s.2; Acts 1941, c.217, s.1; Acts 1951, c.296, s.1; Acts 1959, c.191, s.1; Acts 1971, P.L.100, SEC.1. As amended by Acts 1980, P.L.74, SEC.261; P.L.109-1983, SEC.32; P.L.18-1990, SEC.144.