(a) The department is authorized to condemn the fee to, or an easement in, lands that may be necessary, suitable, or desirable for the construction, reconstruction, development, enlargement, maintenance, repair, drainage, or protection of any street, road, highway, freeway, or parkway, by the officials charged by law with the maintenance or construction of the street, road, highway, freeway, or parkway, including the power to acquire easements in lands adjacent to the lands for related slopes and drainage and any other similar purposes.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 54-5-104

  • Department: means the department of transportation. See Tennessee Code 54-5-103
  • Highway: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Lands: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Road: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) This section applies to all transportation purposes, as well as for highway purposes.