§ 148. — Development of a national scenic and recreational highway.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 23USC148]
TITLE 23--HIGHWAYS
CHAPTER 1--FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS
SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 148. Development of a national scenic and recreational
highway
(a) As soon as possible after the date of enactment of this section,
the Secretary shall establish criteria for the location and construction
or reconstruction of the Great River Road by the ten States bordering
the Mississippi River. Such criteria shall include requirements that--
(1) priority be given in the location of the Great River Road
near or easily accessible to the larger population centers of the
State \1\ and further priority be given to the construction and
improvement of the Great River Road in the proximity of the
confluence of the Mississippi River and the Wisconsin River;
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\1\ So in original. Probably should be ``States''.
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(2) the Great River Road be connected with other Federal-aid
highways and preferably with the Interstate System;
(3) the Great River Road be marked with uniform identifying
signs;
(4) effective control, as defined in section 131 of this title,
of signs, displays, and devices will be provided along the Great
River Road;
(5) the provisions of section 129(a) of this title shall not
apply to any bridge or tunnel on the Great River Road and no fees
shall be charged for the use of any facility constructed with
assistance under this section, except for parks, recreational areas,
and historical sites operated by State or local governments where
admission fees may be charged to cover operational costs.
(b) For the purpose of this section, the term ``construction''
includes the acquisition of areas of historical, archeological, or
scientific interest, necessary easements for scenic purposes, and the
construction or reconstruction of roadside rest areas (including
appropriate recreational facilities), scenic viewing areas, and other
appropriate facilities as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Highways constructed or reconstructed pursuant to this section
(except subsection (f)) shall be part of the Federal-aid system.
(d) Funds appropriated for each fiscal year pursuant to subsection
(g) shall be apportioned among the ten States bordering the Mississippi
River on the basis of their relative needs as determined by the
Secretary for payments to carry out this section.
(e) The Federal share of the cost of any project for any
construction or reconstruction pursuant to the preceding subsections of
this section shall be that provided in section 120 of this title for the
Federal-aid system on which such project is located, and if such project
is not on such a system, such share shall be 75 per centum of such cost.
(f) The Secretary is authorized to consult with the heads of other
Federal departments and agencies having jurisdiction over Federal lands
open to the public in order to enter into appropriate arrangements for
necessary construction or reconstruction of highways on such lands to
carry out this section. Highways constructed or reconstructed by a State
pursuant to this section which are not on a Federal-aid system, and
highways constructed or reconstructed under this subsection, shall be
subject to the criteria applicable to highways constructed or
reconstructed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Funds
authorized pursuant to subsection (g) shall be used to pay the entire
cost of construction or reconstruction pursuant to the first sentence of
this subsection.
(g) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section, out of the Highway Trust Fund, for construction or
reconstruction of roads on a Federal-aid highway system, not to exceed
$10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, $25,000,000 for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, and $25,000,000 for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1976, for allocations to the States pursuant to
this section, and there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this section out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, not to exceed $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
ending June 30, 1974, June 30, 1975, and June 30, 1976, for construction
and reconstruction of roads not on a Federal-aid highway system.
(h) The Secretary is authorized to provide for the construction of
such spur highways as he determines necessary to connect the Great River
Road, by the most direct feasible routes, with existing bridges across
the Mississippi for the purpose of providing persons traveling such road
with access to significant scenic, historical, recreational, or
archeological features on the opposite side of the Mississippi River
from the Great River Road.
(Added Pub. L. 93-87, title I, Sec. 129(b), Aug. 13, 1973, 87 Stat. 265;
amended Pub. L. 95-599, title I, Secs. 125, 129(d), Nov. 6, 1978, 92
Stat. 2705, 2707.)
References in Text
The date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (a),
means Aug. 13, 1973, the date of approval of Pub. L. 93-87.
Amendments
1978--Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 95-599, Sec. 125(b), inserted
provision authorizing charging of a fee in certain cases to cover
operational costs.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95-599, Sec. 129(d), substituted ``75 per
centum'' for ``70 per centum''.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 95-599, Sec. 125(a), added subsec. (h).
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by section 129(d) of Pub. L. 95-599 effective with respect
to obligations incurred after Nov. 6, 1978, see section 129(h) of Pub.
L. 95-599, set out as a note under section 120 of this title.
