CHAPTER 237*
STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM

PART I*
GENERAL

      Sec. 13a-14. State highway system. There shall be a system of state highways which shall include (1) state primary highways, which are highways serving the predominant flow of traffic between the principal towns of this state and between such towns and similar towns of the surrounding states; (2) state secondary highways, which are connecting and feeder highways which supplement the state primary system by serving the predominant flow of traffic between the smaller towns of the state and between such towns and other towns in this state and in surrounding states; and (3) state special service highways, which are highways which provide access from the primary and secondary systems of state highways to federal and state facilities.

      (1961, P.A. 603, S. 2; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 14; P.A. 96-180, S. 32, 166.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; P.A. 96-180 replaced alphabetic Subdiv. indicators with numeric indicators, effective June 3, 1996.

      Cited. 186 C. 300. Cited. 228 C. 350.

      Cited. 44 CA 651.

      Sec. 13a-15. Inclusion of interstate highway system in state system. All sections of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways in Connecticut, commonly known as the interstate highway system, as provided for in the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, as amended, shall be included in the state highway system.

      (1959, P.A. 21, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 15.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history.

      Cited. 228 C. 358.

      Sec. 13a-16. Official map. Transfers to local jurisdiction. The state highway system shall be that system of highways as shown on the official map marked "State of Connecticut, State Highway System, Committee to Reclassify All Public Roads, Edwards and Kelcey-Engineers and Consultants, January 13, 1961" and on file in the office of the commissioner and the Secretary of the State, as the same may be altered from time to time in accordance with the provisions of sections 13a-42, 13a-43, 13a-44, 13a-45 and 13a-56 and any other provisions of the general statutes authorizing or empowering the commissioner to plan, construct, reconstruct, repair, improve, manage, maintain and operate any highway. Before transferring any road from state to local jurisdiction within the time limits described below, the commissioner shall put such road in reasonably good condition and shall be open to negotiation with the selectmen of any town concerning the condition of any such road upon transfer for a period of at least sixty days before such transfer becomes effective. Transfers under this section shall take effect June 22, 1961, or as soon thereafter as it is practicable for the commissioner and the towns to effect the same, but not later than September 30, 1962, except for such transfers as are under arbitration. Any special act inconsistent herewith is repealed.

      (1961, P.A. 603, S. 3; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 16.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history.

      Annotations to former statutes:

      What constitutes "trunk line highway". 125 C. 416.

      Unless highway commissioner designates certain street is trunk line route, right to regulate parking belongs to town. 9 CS 107. No highway considered a part of the trunk line system except as established by law. 18 CS 261.

      Annotations to present section:

      Cited. 186 C. 300. Cited. 198 C. 185. Cited. 228 C. 358.

      Sec. 13a-17. Arbitration of town grievance. Appointment of arbitrators. Any town aggrieved by the reclassification of highways as designated on the original official map marked "State of Connecticut, State Highway System, Committee to Reclassify All Public Roads, Edwards and Kelcey-Engineers and Consultants, January 13, 1961" or by the action taken by the commissioner pursuant to section 13a-42, 13a-43 or 13a-44 may elect to submit the matter to arbitration by a committee of three persons, one to be appointed by such town, one to be appointed by the commissioner and the third to be appointed by the two so appointed by the town and the commissioner. Such election of submission to arbitration shall be made by the town by advising the commissioner in writing within sixty days from the date said commissioner notifies the town of the action taken pursuant to section 13a-42, 13a-43 or 13a-44. The town shall appoint its arbitrator within thirty days after the commissioner advises the town in writing who he has appointed as the state's arbitrator. If the town does not elect to submit the matter to arbitration or appoint its arbitrator within the time hereinabove provided said action of the commissioner will become final. The provisions of chapter 909 shall apply to arbitration proceedings under the provisions of this section, the cost thereof, exclusive of the cost of expert testimony and other evidence offered by the town involved, to be chargeable to the state. The commissioner shall make such changes in said map as may be decided by arbitration or by appeal therefrom. The submission of a matter to arbitration under the provisions of this section shall stay any action of the commissioner under the provisions of section 13a-16.

      (1961, P.A. 603, S. 4; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 17; 546; 1967, P.A. 235, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 307, S. 1.)

      History: 1963 acts provided for charging of costs, exclusive of expert testimony and other evidence offered by town, to state and restated previous provisions: See title history; 1967 act replaced phrase re agreement with commissioner to submit dispute to arbitration with phrase re election to submit dispute to arbitration and included reference to grievances resulting from actions by commissioner pursuant to Sec. 13a-42, 13a-43 or 13a-44; 1971 act added provisions detailing submission to arbitration undertaken by town including pertinent deadlines.

      Cited. 186 C. 300.

      Sec. 13a-18. Alterations in system. Section 13a-18 is repealed.

      (1961, P.A. 603, S. 3; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 18; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 263.)

      Sec. 13a-19. Powers of commissioner unaffected. Nothing in sections 13a-14, 13a-16 and 13a-17 shall be construed to limit, restrict or derogate from any power, right or authority of the commissioner contained in any other statute.

      (1961, P.A. 603, S. 11; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 19; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 75.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; 1969 act deleted reference to repealed Sec. 13a-18.

PART II
EXPRESSWAYS

      Sec. 13a-20. Definitions. As used in this part, unless the context indicates a different meaning or intent:

      (a) "Expressway" means a highway at such locations or between such termini as are herein or may by act of the General Assembly hereafter be established, which is planned, constructed or operated under the provisions of this part and which may provide separation of opposing traffic of vehicles and elimination of cross traffic of vehicles as deemed necessary by the commissioner and access to which is allowed only at highway intersections designated by the commissioner, together with and including all such bridges, buildings, structures and facilities related thereto, including all such restaurant, gasoline station and other service facilities and public conveniences as may be proper purposes for the expenditure of public moneys in connection with such highway, as the commissioner may determine;

      (b) "Bond declaration" means a written instrument, signed by the commissioner or Treasurer and filed or to be filed in the office of the Secretary of the State;

      (c) "Cost", when used with reference to construction of an expressway or highway, means, as of any particular date, the costs thereafter to be incurred of planning, designing, constructing and landscaping such expressway or highway and all approaches, bridges and roads connecting thereto or connecting parts thereof, of all lands, property rights, rights-of-way, easements and franchises necessary or convenient for such construction, of all machinery and equipment, and of traffic estimates, administration, engineering, architectural and legal services, plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and revenues, financing charges, interest prior to or during construction, and all such other expenses thereafter to be incurred as may be necessary or incident to the financing and construction of such expressway or highway and the placing of the same fully in operation, and may include such part as may be determined in a bond declaration related to such expressway or highway of any similar costs and expenses related to such expressway or highway theretofore incurred by the state or the commissioner and such reserves for the payment or security of principal of or interest on bonds as may be determined in a bond declaration related to such expressway or highway;

      (d) "Treasurer" means the State Treasurer and includes each and all of his successors in office or authority; and

      (e) "Highway", as used in sections 13a-22 and 13a-25, means any highway laid out or maintained by the state.

      (1953, 1955, June, 1955, S. 1208d; 1957, P.A. 558, S. 1; 1958 Rev., S. 13-158; 1959, P.A. 132, S. 16; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 20; P.A. 77-614, S. 19, 73, 610; P.A. 87-496, S. 68, 110; P.A. 97-62, S. 1; P.A. 00-196, S. 6.)

      History: 1959 act removed references to repealed statutes in Subsec. (c); 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; P.A. 77-614 substituted secretary of the office of policy and management for commissioner of finance and control and commissioner of administrative services for public works commissioner; P.A. 87-496 substituted "public works" for "administrative services" commissioner in Subsec. (b); P.A. 97-62 deleted Subsecs. (b) and (c) defining "Expressway Bond Committee" and "bond" and redesignated existing Subsecs. (d) to (g), inclusive, as (b) to (e), respectively; P.A. 00-196 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting reference to Secs. 13a-199 to 13a-200, inclusive.

      Cited. 19 CS 492.

      Distinguishing features of expressways discussed. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 373.

      Subdiv. (g):

      Cited. 198 C. 185.

      Sec. 13a-21. Construction of Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike. (a) The commissioner is authorized and directed to plan and construct, under the provisions of this part, an expressway which is hereby established at the following location or such part or parts thereof as may from time to time, by a bond declaration, or any amendment thereof signed or approved by the commissioner, be determined to be suitable for such expressway: Beginning at a point on the Connecticut-New York state line near the village of Port Chester, New York, and running, with such omissions and for such distance as may from time to time be so determined in such a declaration or amendment thereof, thence in a general northeasterly direction to New Haven, and thence in a general easterly direction via the Baldwin Bridge over the Connecticut River to a point at or near the East Lyme-Waterford town line, and thence in a general northeasterly direction to a point at or near Norwich, and thence in a general northeasterly direction to a point on the Connecticut-Rhode Island state line in Killingly. Such expressway shall be included in the state highway system.

      (b) The expressway constructed under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be designated as the "Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike".

      (1953, 1955, June, 1955, S. 1209d; 1955, S. 1210d; 1958 Rev., S. 13-159, 13-160; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 21, 22; P.A. 86-201, S. 1; P.A. 97-62, S. 2.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; P.A. 86-201 amended Subsec. (b) by changing the name of the expressway from the Connecticut Turnpike to the Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike; P.A. 97-62 deleted reference to Secs. 13a-199 to 13a-220, inclusive.

      "... vested ultimate and exclusive responsibility for planning and constructing expressway in plaintiff's highway commissioner". 204 C. 177.

      Cited. 19 CS 497.

      Sec. 13a-22. Construction of separate expressway. Easterly portion of turnpike. (a) The commissioner is authorized to plan and construct, under the provisions of this part, a separate expressway which is hereby established at such part or parts of the location of the highway constituting, on January 30, 1957, the expressway mentioned in section 13a-21 as may, from time to time, by a bond declaration or any amendment thereof signed or approved by the commissioner, be determined to be suitable for such expressway or highway. Such expressway or highway shall be included in the state highway system. The commissioner may construct with respect to such highway such related buildings and facilities. Any such highway, if financed by the issuance of expressway bonds described in a bond declaration signed by the commissioner or Treasurer after January 1, 1957, shall become and is hereby established as an expressway without further action of the General Assembly.

      (b) The highway constructed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section beginning at the easterly end of approaches to the Raymond E. Baldwin Bridge over the Connecticut River and ending at a point on the Connecticut-Rhode Island state line in Killingly shall be constructed, whether or not as an expressway, as a divided highway with not less than four lanes at all points. Nothing contained herein shall preclude the completion and use of the two-lane and undivided sections planned prior to May 28, 1957, but the commissioner is authorized and directed to add the additional two lanes.

      (1955, June, 1955, S. 1236d; 1957, P.A. 2, S. 3; 558, S. 4; 1958 Rev., S. 13-186 (c), (d); 1963, P.A. 226, S. 23; P.A. 81-67, S. 1, 7; P.A. 96-180, S. 139, 166; P.A. 97-62, S. 3.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; P.A. 81-67 set the tolls at $0.35 for passenger vehicles and $0.30 per axle for commercial vehicles; P.A. 96-180 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provisions re toll highways and collection of tolls, effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 97-62 amended Subsec. (a) to delete requirement for written approval of Expressway Bond Committee and to delete reference to Secs. 13a-199 to 13a-220, inclusive.

      Sec. 13a-23. Authority of commissioner. The commissioner may (a) plan, construct, reconstruct, repair, improve, manage, maintain and operate expressways, and reconstruct and relocate existing highways, sections of highways, bridges or structures and incorporate and use the same, whether or not so reconstructed or relocated or otherwise changed or improved, as parts of such expressways; (b) retain and employ consultants and assistants on a contract or other basis for rendering legal, financial, professional, technical or other assistance and advice necessary to carry out the provisions concerning expressways; (c) limit ingress to or egress from, and establish regulations for the use of, any expressways, and (d) do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and exercise the powers expressly given in this part.

      (1953, 1955, June, 1955, S. 1211d; 1958 Rev., S. 13-161; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 24; P.A. 96-180, S. 140, 166; P.A. 97-62, S. 4.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; P.A. 96-180 deleted reference to repealed Secs. 13a-156 and 13a-161, effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 97-62 deleted reference to Secs. 13a-199 to 13a-220, inclusive.

      Cited. 150 C. 343.

      Sec. 13a-24. General authority of commissioner not limited. Nothing contained in this part shall be construed to limit, restrict or derogate from any power, right or authority of the commissioner existing under or pursuant to any other act of the General Assembly.

      (1953, June, 1955, S. 1238d; 1958 Rev., S. 13-188; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 25; P.A. 96-180, S. 141, 166; P.A. 97-62, S. 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 77, 121.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; P.A. 96-180 deleted reference to repealed Secs. 13a-156 and 13a-161, effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 97-62 deleted reference to Secs. 13a-199 to 13a-220, inclusive; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 removed a comma after "part", effective June 24, 1998.

      Sec. 13a-25. Additional referees for land acquisition proceedings. Whenever the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court finds that the number of state referees available for the performance of the duties of state referees under subsection (c) of section 13a-73, sections 13a-74 and 13a-76, subsection (d) of section 32-658 and sections 32-659 and 32-660 is not sufficient to consider and act upon the acquisition of land and buildings for a stadium facility and related parking facilities, as defined in section 32-651, with reasonable promptness, said Chief Justice, upon the application of the commissioner or the secretary, as the case may be, may appoint such number of additional state referees as necessary to expedite the performance of such duties. Such appointments may be made from time to time and for such period of time, not more than two months in length, as designated by the Chief Justice. Such additional state referees shall have the same powers and duties as state referees appointed under section 52-434, with respect to the granting of the approvals and the performance of other duties of state referees in the acquisition of land and buildings for such expressway, highway, stadium facility and related parking facilities and shall receive such reasonable compensation as is determined by the Chief Justice, and such compensation and expenses incurred in the conduct of any hearings by such state referees shall be paid as a part of the cost thereof.

      (1953, 1955, June, 1955, S. 1230d; 1958 Rev., S. 13-180; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 26; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 93-1, S. 14, 35; P.A. 97-62, S. 6; Dec. Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 34, 43; P.A. 99-241, S. 58, 66; P.A. 00-140, S. 26, 40; P.A. 02-103, S. 52.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 93-1 added references to acquisition of land and buildings for a stadium facility or practice facility, effective September 28, 1993; P.A. 97-62 deleted reference to any expressway or highway financed under Secs. 13a-199 to 13a-220, inclusive; Dec. Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 added references to acquisition of land and buildings for the stadium facility and infrastructure improvements and deleted references to repealed Secs. 32-387 to 32-389, inclusive, and the practice facility, effective January 12, 1999; P.A. 99-241 deleted "stadium facility or infrastructure improvements" and added "sportsplex and related parking facilities", changing corresponding statutory references accordingly, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-140 updated certain statutory references consistent with changes in said act, made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality and replaced reference to the former Hartford sportsplex with reference to the stadium facility defined in Sec. 32-651, effective May 2, 2000; P.A. 02-103 made a technical change.

PART III
PARKWAYS

      Sec. 13a-26. Parkways and freeways. (a) Definitions. As used in this section, "parkway" means any state highway receiving special treatment in landscaping and marginal planting, especially designed for, and devoted exclusively to, the use and accommodation of noncommercial motor vehicle traffic and to which access may be allowed only at highway intersections designated by the commissioner and designed by him so as to eliminate cross traffic of vehicles, and "freeway" means any state highway designed to separate through, high-speed, noncommercial motor vehicle traffic from all other types of traffic by the use of independent traffic lanes. Connection between local traffic and through traffic lanes shall be provided at intervals in the discretion of the commissioner.

      (b) Construction. The commissioner shall, upon direction by the General Assembly, lay out and construct any state highway as a parkway or freeway. Said commissioner, prior to such construction, shall submit to the General Assembly the following information concerning such construction of any parkway or freeway: The approximate cost of the parkway or freeway and a definite route with an official map showing the towns through which it will pass. The commissioner shall not alter the route submitted except with the advice and approval of the Governor and the Attorney General, and changes therein shall not be approved until a public hearing or hearings are held at which the towns affected and their residents may be heard.

      (c) Service highways. As an adjunct of any parkway or freeway, the commissioner is authorized to lay out and construct highways and drives, to be designated as service highways, to provide access from areas adjacent to a parkway or freeway and to provide for the restriction or elimination of cross traffic on such parkway or freeway, when he deems the same to be necessary in the public interest.

      (d) Acquisition of land. The commissioner may purchase or take any real property or rights in real property necessary or required for the construction, alteration, extension, widening, change of grade or improvement of such parkways, freeways or service highways in the same manner as is provided in the general statutes in the case of state highways. The provisions of the general statutes relating to state highways not inconsistent with the provisions of this section shall apply to parkways, freeways and service highways.

      (e) Alteration. The commissioner, with the advice and approval of the Governor and the Attorney General, may alter the layout or construction or use of any such authorized parkway or freeway, or designated portions thereof, when, in their opinion, such change would be in the interests of public convenience, safety and necessity.

      (f) Wilbur Cross Parkway and Merritt Parkway. Regulations re vehicle use of. The provisions of this part restricting the use and accommodation of motor vehicle traffic on parkways to noncommercial vehicles shall not apply to use of the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways by (1) taxicabs, as defined in section 13b-95, (2) vanpool vehicles, as defined in section 14-1, or (3) service buses or two-axle, four-wheeled type II, registered school buses with a gross vehicle weight rating of nine thousand six hundred pounds or less, which are owned by or under contract to a public, private or religious school or public school district and which are engaged in the transportation of school children to and from school or school activities, provided such service buses conform to the regulations establishing the maximum weight, length, height or width of vehicles permitted to use such parkways and such school buses are no more than ninety-eight inches high, eighty-four inches wide and two hundred three inches long. The State Traffic Commission shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 establishing the maximum allowable length and height for any vanpool vehicle using said Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways and, not later than July 1, 1984, publish in the Connecticut Law Journal a notice of intent to adopt proposed regulations, as defined in section 4-166, reducing the maximum weight, length, height or width of, or limiting the registration classes of, motor vehicles permitted to use such parkways, in order to fully carry out the prohibition on the operation of commercial motor vehicles on such parkways.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2257, 2258; 1958 Rev., S. 13-139; 1959, P.A. 434, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 27; P.A. 79-175, S. 1, 3; P.A. 80-483, S. 58, 186; P.A. 84-327, S. 1, 3; P.A. 85-255; P.A. 94-94; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 69, 130.)

      History: 1959 act removed exception for Merritt Parkway in Subsec. (e); 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; P.A. 79-175 added Subsec. (f) re taxicabs and vanpool vehicles on Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways; P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; P.A. 84-327 amended Subsec. (f) to substitute state traffic commission for commissioner of transportation and to require commission to publish notice in Connecticut Law Journal re proposed parkway motor vehicle regulations; P.A. 85-255 amended Subsec. (f), permitting certain school vans to use the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways; P.A. 94-94 amended Subsec. (d) by deleting "is authorized to" after "commissioner" in the first sentence and inserting "may" in lieu thereof, and amended Subsec. (f), to permit single-axle, type II, registered school buses with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,600 pounds or less to use the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways, and adding a proviso that such school buses are to be no more than 98 inches high, 84 inches wide and 203 inches long; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (f)(3) to delete reference to "single-axle" and substitute reference to "two-axle, four-wheeled" type II registered school buses.

      See Sec. 13a-58 re public hearing on proposed layout of new highways.

      Rules pertaining to abutters on conventional highways are not applicable to a trunk line highway. 144 C. 289. Cited. 180 C. 11.

      Conditions outlined under which parkways and freeways may be established. 18 CS 263.

      Distinguishing features of parkways discussed. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 373.

      Sec. 13a-27. Wilbur Cross Parkway. Restricted use. The "Wilbur Cross Parkway" means that highway established by number 394 of the special acts of 1937 and constructed between the grade separation at the Housatonic River and Meriden. Said parkway is restricted to noncommercial automotive vehicular use.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2274, 2275; 1955, S. 1203d; 1958 Rev., S. 13-152, 13-153; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 28.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history.

      Cited. 148 C. 21.

      Sec. 13a-28. Transferred to Chapter 238, Sec. 13a-117a.

PART IV
SPECIFIC BRIDGES

      Sec. 13a-29. Hartford bridges part of state highway system. All rights, funds and properties formerly owned or controlled by the Greater Hartford Bridge Authority, together with all bridges or other properties operated by it or under its jurisdiction or control, shall continue to be vested in the state, and all such bridges and all approach or connecting highways incidental thereto shall be maintained by the Commissioner of Transportation and continue to be a part of the state highway system.

      (1959, P.A. 132, S. 11; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 30; 1967, P.A. 604, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 182, S. 1; 768, S. 76; 1972, P.A. 294, S. 13; P.A. 73-675, S. 8, 44; P.A. 74-342, S. 15, 43.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; 1967 act revised provision re toll charges to provide that tolls be the highest charge possible without reducing revenues by discouraging use of bridges rather than to provide that they be sufficient to cover maintenance and operation costs of bridges and to cover various bonds; 1969 acts amended Subdiv. (2) re cutoff for tolls on bridges and substituted commissioner of transportation for highway commissioner; 1972 act made technical correction; P.A. 73-675 substituted transportation fund for highway fund; P.A. 74-342 deleted provisions re collection of various tolls and re employment of officers, agents, consultants, etc.

      Sec. 13a-29a. Seniority rights of former bridge authority employees. The Commissioner of Transportation shall add such period of employment as any employee of the Department of Transportation previously had in the employ of the Greater Hartford Bridge Authority to the time such employee has accrued as an employee of said department for the purpose of determining such employee's seniority for any reason which may be required by law, rule or regulation.

      (February, 1965, P.A. 560; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 77.)

      History: 1969 act substituted commissioner and department of transportation for highway commissioner and department.

      Sec. 13a-30. Founders Bridge named. The highway bridge across the Connecticut River, between State Street in Hartford and the dike in East Hartford, is designated as "Founders Bridge".

      (1955, S. 1261d; 1958 Rev., S. 13-235; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 31.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history.

      Sec. 13a-31. Gold Star Memorial Bridge named. The bridge, with approaches, constructed over the Thames River by the Groton-New London Bridge Commission, shall be designated as the "Gold Star Memorial Bridge" in honor of those members of the armed forces of the United States from Groton, New London and Waterford, who lost their lives during World War I, World War II and the war in Korea. The commissioner shall erect suitable plaques on each end of said bridge.

      (1951, S. 1252d; 1958 Rev., S. 13-193; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 32.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history.

      Sec. 13a-32. Thames River Bridge. Location. The commissioner is authorized and directed, to the full extent but only to the extent permitted by moneys, appropriations and allotments becoming available under sections 13a-239 to 13a-246, inclusive, and allotments becoming available under any other law, to construct a new state highway, which is made hereby a part of the state highway system and is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "project", as a two-lane facility from a point on the Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike northerly of the toll station existing in Montville, prior to 1985, to a point on Connecticut Route 12 not more than two thousand feet south of Connecticut Route 27, including and over a new bridge, which is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "bridge", across the Thames River from a point northerly of the developed portion of Fort Shantok State Park in Montville to a point southerly of the Norwich Hospital in Preston.

      (1961, P.A. 541, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 33; 547; P.A. 86-201, S. 2; P.A. 91-407, S. 3, 42.)

      History: 1963 acts specified "the developed portion of" Fort Shantok State Park and restated previous provisions: See title history; P.A. 86-201 changed reference from the Connecticut Turnpike to the Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike; P.A. 91-407 revised site description to acknowledge the removal of toll booths.

      Sec. 13a-33. Powers and duties of commissioner. Subject to the limitations referred to in section 13a-32, the commissioner is authorized (a) to plan, design, lay out, construct, reconstruct, relocate, improve, maintain and operate the project, and reconstruct and relocate existing highways, sections of highways, bridges or structures and incorporate or use the same, whether or not so reconstructed or relocated or otherwise changed or improved, as parts of the project, and, to that end, to do and perform with respect to the project any act or thing which is mentioned or referred to in subsection (a) of section 13a-239; (b) to retain and employ consultants and assistants on a contract or other basis for rendering professional, legal, fiscal, engineering, technical or other assistance and advice; (c) to limit ingress to or egress from, and establish regulations for the use of, the project; and (d) to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and duties and exercise the powers expressly given in sections 13a-32 to 13a-35, inclusive, 13a-127, 13a-160 and 13a-239 to 13a-246, inclusive. Except as otherwise stated in section 13a-32, nothing contained in sections 13a-33, 13a-34, 13a-35, 13a-127, 13a-160 and 13a-239 to 13a-246, inclusive, shall be construed to limit or restrict, with respect to the project, any power, right or authority of the commissioner existing under or pursuant to any other law.

      (1961, P.A. 541, S. 4; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 34.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history.

      Sec. 13a-34. Commissioner to maintain project. The project and all approach or connecting highways incidental thereto shall be maintained by the commissioner and be part of the state highway system.

      (1961, P.A. 541, S. 12; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 35; P.A. 73-675, S. 9, 44; P.A. 75-568, S. 6, 45.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; P.A. 73-675 substituted transportation fund for highway fund; P.A. 75-568 deleted reference to transportation fund in view of its incorporation into general fund.

      Sec. 13a-35. Protection of obligation for Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike. In order to observe or fulfill any obligation of the state created by or pursuant to part IV of chapter 234 of the 1958 revision of the general statutes, as amended, prior to June 13, 1961, or to permit certain vehicular passage between the Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike and the project without violation of any such obligation, the commissioner is specifically empowered at any time to prohibit or otherwise restrict, or on behalf of the state to agree to prohibit or otherwise restrict, the passage of all or any motor vehicles to said project from Connecticut Route 32 or any route generally parallel thereto west of the Thames River and east of the Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike or from the project to any such route.

      (1961, P.A. 541, S. 15; 1963, P.A. 226, S. 36; P.A. 86-201, S. 3.)

      History: 1963 act replaced previous provisions: See title history; P.A. 86-201 changed reference from the Connecticut Turnpike to the Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike.