84.15 Bridges.

(1) Maintenance and operation of intrastate bridges. Except as provided in a jurisdictional transfer agreement under s. 84.16, all matters relating to the maintenance and operation of bridges constructed, reconstructed or purchased under s. 84.11 before August 9, 1989, shall be under the jurisdiction and complete control of the department and the cost of such maintenance and operation thereof shall be the direct obligation of the state. Such portion of the approaches as may be determined by the department shall be considered a part of such bridge for maintenance and operation purposes. The portion of the approaches or highway not considered a part of such bridge for maintenance and operation purposes as determined by the department shall be maintained by the town, city or village in which it lies but this provision shall not diminish or otherwise affect the duty of the county with respect to the county trunk highways or the state with respect to the state trunk highways. Authority is given the department to carry fire or tornado insurance, or both, on bridges where such hazard exists and the premium on such insurance shall be included as a portion of such maintenance and operation costs.

(2) Across bay of Great Lakes. In the case of any intrastate bridge built across a bay of any of the Great Lakes, the maintenance under sub. (1) shall be deemed to include repair or reconstruction necessitated by any accidental damage done to such bridge by vessels using such bay, or some other catastrophe, in which event the department may use for such repair or reconstruction moneys available for the construction of such bridges.

(3) Interstate bridges, Wisconsin's share. The provisions of this section shall also apply to all interstate bridges constructed, reconstructed or purchased under s. 84.12; and the term “bridge" as used in sub. (1) means Wisconsin's portion of such interstate bridges.

History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (a); 1989 a. 31.