§859. Construction of bridges

Any parish may construct, subject to the approval hereinafter required, any bridge, or construct improvements to any bridge theretofore constructed or acquired, whenever such construction is deemed expedient. The parish may purchase within this state and within any adjoining state, solely from funds provided under authority of this Sub-part, any lands, structures, rights of way, franchises, servitudes, and other interests in lands, including lands under water and riparian rights of any person or political subdivision, deemed necessary for the construction of any such bridge, upon such terms and at such prices as are considered reasonable by it and can be agreed upon between it and the owners thereof. It shall take title thereto in its name.

The state of Louisiana consents to the use of all lands lying under water which are within the state and are necessary to the construction and operation of any such bridge and the approaches and appurtenances thereto.

All bridges constructed, acquired or improved under the provisions of this Sub-part shall be so constructed, acquired or improved only after having received approval of the Department of Highways of the state of Louisiana, or its successor. This approval shall be with respect to location and the relationship of the bridge to an integrated system of state highways, as determined by the Department of Highways of the state of Louisiana, or its successor.

To afford users of any such project a reasonable choice of motor fuels of different brands, each gasoline service station or site therefor shall be separately offered for lease upon sealed bids for private operation and, after at least 4 weeks notice of the offer has been published in a newspaper having general circulation in the state, each such lease shall be awarded to the highest responsible bidder therefor, who may provide for the operation of the service station by a third person, but no person shall be awarded or have the use of, nor shall motor fuel identified by the trademarks, trade names, or brands of any one supplier, distributor, or retailer of such fuel be sold at, (1) consecutive service stations along one side of such project, or (2) more than one service station if they constitute more than 20 percent of the service stations on such project.

Amended by Acts 1954, No. 664, §2.