Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 70.djvu/437

 70 S T A T. ]

PUBLIC LAW 6 2 7 - J U N E 29, 1956

381

the Secretary of Commerce in cooperation with the State highway departments as soon as practicable after the enactment of this Act. (j) MAXIMUM W E I G H T AND W I D T H LIMITATIONS.—No funds authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year by this section shall be apportioned to any State within the boundaries of which the Interstate System may lawfully be used by vehicles with weight in excess of eighteen thousand pounds carried on any one axle, or with a tandemaxle weight in excess of thirty-two thousand pounds, or with an overall gross weight in excess of 73,280 pounds, or with a width in excess of 96 inches, or the corresponding maximum weights or maximum widths permitted for vehicles using the public highways of such State under laws or regulations established by appropriate State authority in effect on July 1, 1956, whichever is the greater. Any amount which is withheld from apportionment to any State pursuant to the foregoing provisions shall lapse: Provided, however, That nothing herein shall be construed to deny apportionment to any State allowing the operation within such State of any vehicles or combinations thereof that could ba lawfully operated within such State on July 1, 1956. (k)

TESTS To DETERMINE MAXIMUM DESIRABLE DIMENSIONS AND

WEIGHTS.—The Secretary of Commerce is directed to take all action possible to expedite the conduct of a series of tests now planned or being conducted by the Highway Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with the Bureau of Public Roads, the several States, and other persons and organizations, for the purpose of determining the maximum desirable dimensions and weights for vehicles operated on the Federal-aid highway systems, including the Interstate System, and, after the conclusion of such tests, but not later than March 1, 1959, to make recommendations to the Congress with respect to such maximum desirable dimensions and weights. (1) INCREASE I N MILEAGE.—Section 7 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 838), relating to the Interstate System, is hereby amended by striking out "forty thousand", and inserting in lieu thereof "forty-one thousand": Provided, That the cost of completing any mileage designated from the one thousand additional miles authorized by this subsection shall be excluded in making the estimates of cost for completing the Interstate System as provided in subsection (d) of this section.

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SEC. 109. ACQUISITION OF RIGHTS-OF-WAY FOR INTERSTATE SYSTEM. (a) FEDERAL ACQUISITION FOR STATES.—In any case in which the

Secretary of Commerce is requested by any State to acquire any lands or interests in lands (including within the term "interests in lands", the control of access thereto from adjoining lands) required by such State for right-of-way or other purposes in connection with the prosecution of any project for the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of any section of the Interstate System, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized, in the name of the I aiited States and prior to the approval of title by the Attorney General, to acquire, enter upon, and take possession of such lands or interests in lands by purchase, donation, condemnation, or otherwise in accordance with the laws of the United States (including the Act of February 26, 1931, 46 Stat. 1421), •-C

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(1) the Secretary of Commerce has determined either that such State is unable to acquire necessary lands or interests in lands, or is unable to acquire such lands or interests in lands with sufficient promptness; and (2) such State has agreed with the Secretary of Commerce to pay, at such time as may be specified by the Secretary of Commerce, an amount equal to 10 per centum of the costs incurred by

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