The state transportation commission is hereby authorized to enter into and make agreements with the federal government, or any agency, bureau or commission thereof, providing for the construction and maintenance of flight strips for the landing and launching of aircraft adjacent to or in the vicinity of public highways, for the construction and maintenance of airports or the construction and maintenance of access roads to flight strips, airports, bombing ranges, target ranges, federal reservations or to any industry or location deemed necessary to the war effort. Whenever a project for the construction and maintenance of a flight strip, an airport or an access road has been approved by the state transportation commission, the secretary is hereby authorized to execute and sign on behalf of the commission the project agreement and modifications thereof and all other documents in connection with such project. Such agreements, modifications thereof and documents, when so executed and signed, shall be binding upon the state to the same extent as if they had been signed by every member of the state transportation commission.

History: 1941 Comp., § 58-254, enacted by Laws 1943, ch. 7, § 1; 1953 Comp., § 55-2-44; 2003, ch. 142, § 59.

Cross references. — For Procurement Code, see 13-1-28 to 13-1-199 NMSA 1978.

The 2003 amendment, effective July 1, 2003, added the section heading; substituted "state transportation commission" for "state highway commission"; and substituted "secretary" for "state highway engineer".

Construction and funding of state-owned airport. — State highway department (now department of transportation) rather than aeronautics commission (now aviation division) may legally construct and maintain a state-owned public airport (necessary to the war effort) and may accept federal money in connection with it. 1947 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 47-5117.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 39 Am. Jur. 2d Highways, Streets and Bridges § 201.

40 C.J.S. Highways §§ 179, 197 et seq.