73 Pa.C.S. Ch. 57

in effect

73 Pa.C.S. § 5701 Construction and acquisition of bridges.

(a) Construction generally.--A township may erect and construct or acquire by purchase, condemnation or otherwise, a bridge and the piers, abutments and approaches for the bridge, to be used, improved and maintained as a street whether the bridge is wholly or partly within the township limits. (b) Proceedings.--The proceedings for laying out and opening a bridge shall be the same as provided by this part for the laying out and opening of streets, and the bridge or portion of the bridge may be vacated under the same procedure as provided in this part for the relocation or vacation of streets or portions of streets. (c) Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission powers and duties.--Nothing in this chapter shall affect the powers or duties of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to the extent otherwise provided by law. (d) Obstructions prohibited.--Bridges over railroads shall not obstruct the railroad over which the bridge is built. Nothing in this section shall release the railroad or other companies or the Commonwealth from the requirements of existing laws. (e) Definition.--As used in this chapter, the term "bridge" shall mean a structure built to span and provide passage over a valley, street, railroad track, private property, gully, river, creek, stream or any other body of water or physical obstacle and shall include viaducts constructed from a series of spans or arches.

73 Pa.C.S. § 5702 Maintenance.

(a) Maintained as township structure.--A bridge shall be maintained as a township structure, and the township may contract with any party interested, except the county, for the maintenance of the bridge. (b) Unrecorded county bridge.--If a bridge, or part of a bridge, has been built by the county, or the whole or part of the money necessary to build the bridge has been furnished by the county, and the bridge has not been entered on record as a county bridge, the bridge shall be maintained, kept in repair and rebuilt, when necessary, by the township or municipal corporation in which, or on the boundary line of which, the bridge is located, without rendering the county liable for the maintenance and repair of the bridge.

73 Pa.C.S. § 5703 Boundary bridges.

(a) Intergovernmental cooperation permitted.--If a bridge crosses the boundary line of a township and another municipal corporation, the township may enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement in accordance with 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 23 Subch. A (relating to intergovernmental cooperation) with the municipal corporation for the construction and maintenance of the bridge and for apportionment of the costs. (b) Court petition.--If an amicable agreement on the proportionate share of costs of construction, maintenance and repair of boundary bridges cannot be executed, the board of commissioners or the governing body of the other municipal corporation involved may petition the court of common pleas of the county or counties for a determination of the rights and responsibilities of the respective municipal corporations involved.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=73Fetched: 10/16/2026