2007 Minnesota Statutes

165.08 MS 1957 [Renumbered 166.08]
165.08 BRIDGE OVER WATERS BETWEEN STATES OR NATIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Authority, agreement. When a trunk highway leads to waters forming the
boundary between this state and an adjoining nation or province thereof, and the Congress of
the United States has authorized the construction of a bridge or bridges over the waters, the
commissioner may enter into equitable agreements with the authorized authorities of the nation
or province providing for the purchase, construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, and
operation of the bridge or bridges, and for the division of costs and responsibilities to be borne by
each therefor. The bridge or bridges shall thereafter be constructed, reconstructed, maintained,
improved, and operated in accordance with the agreement. Such equitable agreement may create a
joint and independent international authority or commission, which may independently purchase,
construct, reconstruct, maintain, improve, repair and operate the bridge or bridges in accordance
with the agreement.
    Subd. 2. Toll bridge permitted. The agreement may provide that such bridges may be
operated as free bridges or as toll bridges. If the latter, tolls may be collected for the use thereof at
rates sufficient to liquidate the capital costs in a reasonable period of time, and after the liquidation
of such capital costs, tolls may continue to be charged so as to defer any costs of reconstruction,
maintenance, repair, improvement and operation which are thereafter incurred.
    Subd. 3. Acquiring toll bridge owned by Minnesota municipality. When any trunk
highway leads to a toll bridge over boundary waters between this state and an adjoining nation
or province, and such bridge is owned by a municipality of this state, the commissioner may
purchase such bridge and assume the obligations of any bonds issued for the construction of
such bridge and still outstanding at the time of purchase. Such bridge may be purchased under
agreement with the adjoining nation or province, or may be purchased in its entirety with trunk
highway funds. Upon such purchase, the bridge may be operated as a free bridge or as a toll
bridge. If such bridge is operated as a toll bridge, the commissioner may collect tolls for the use
of the bridge in such amounts so as to, as nearly as practicable, enable the outstanding bonds to
be retired at maturity from the income from such toll charges.
    Subd. 4. Costs and tolls; trunk highway fund. All costs to be borne by this state of
purchasing, constructing, reconstructing, maintaining, improving and operating such bridges,
including interest and principal payments of any bond obligations assumed by the commissioner
shall be paid out of the trunk highway fund. Minnesota's share of all tolls collected under
agreement with an adjoining nation or province, and all tolls collected for any toll bridge
purchased entirely by this state shall be paid into the trunk highway fund. Notwithstanding this
section or any other provision of law to the contrary, a joint and independent international
authority or commission created under subdivision 1 is authorized to establish, collect, retain and
spend all tolls for the purchase, construction, reconstruction, maintenance, improvement, repair
and operation of any bridge or bridges under its control, and such international authority or
commission is not required to deposit such tolls into the trunk highway fund.
    Subd. 5. Exemptions. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
properties, moneys, and other assets of any joint and independent international authority or
commission created under subdivision 1, all revenues or other income of any such authority or
commission shall be exempt from all taxation, licenses, fees, or charges of any kind imposed by
the state or by any county, municipality, political subdivision, taxing district, or other public
agency or body of the state.
History: 1959 c 500 art 6 s 8; 1965 c 256 s 1; 1971 c 678 s 1-4; 1996 c 471 art 1 s 2