Delaware Code Title 17 Sec. 703 – Crossing by state highways with watercourses or railroads
(a) The Department may cross any canal, navigable stream or watercourse with a state highway, but in such manner as not unnecessarily to impede the navigation and use thereof, and also may cross any railroad or railway with a state highway and acquire the necessary easement for such crossing either by agreement with the owner, or on failure to agree, by condemnation thereof in accordance with Chapter 61 of Title 10. However, no state highway shall cross any railroad or railway at grade except at a point or place where such railroad or railway is now crossed at grade by a public road, provided, however, state highways may cross spurs, sidings and branchlines of any railroad or railway at grade if approval is first obtained from the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to whom reasons and supporting data for requesting at grade crossing shall be furnished. All at grade crossings so approved shall be furnished with crossing protection, required by applicable federal, state and local regulations.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 17 Sec. 703
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Department: means the Department of Transportation. See Delaware Code Title 17 Sec. 101
- highway: include any public way or road or portion thereof and any sewer, drain or drainage system connected therewith and any bridge, culvert, viaduct or other construction or artificial way used in connection therewith and anything which is accessory to any of the same or to the use thereof. See Delaware Code Title 17 Sec. 101
- Railroad: means a road, the cars, carriages and coaches on which are propelled by steam power, electricity, cable, motor or any improved motive power. See Delaware Code Title 17 Sec. 101
- Secretary: means the Secretary of Transportation. See Delaware Code Title 17 Sec. 101
- State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
- State highway: includes any road or highway or portion thereof which the Department has constructed or of which the Department has taken or assumed control or jurisdiction. See Delaware Code Title 17 Sec. 101
(b) The Department may enter upon the lands or waters of any person for the purpose of making such examination and surveys for proposed highways as shall be required to be made in the selection of the most advantageous route for such highway, but subject at all times to responsibility for all and any damages which shall be done to the property of any such person or persons.
29 Del. Laws, c. 63, § ?6; 34 Del. Laws, c. 79; Code 1935, § ?5739; 46 Del. Laws, c. 257, § ?1; 17 Del. C. 1953, § ?707; 62 Del. Laws, c. 341, § ?1;