Public Law 71–524

That in order to

Chootawhatchee River.

Florida may bridge, east of Freeport, Fla.

facilitate interstate commerce, improve the postal service, and provide for military and other purposes, the State of Florida, through and by its highway department, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a free highway bridge and approaches thereto across the Choctawhatchee River, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, east of Freeport, Florida, connecting the counties of Washington and Walton. Florida, in accordance with

Construction.

Vol. 34, p. 84.

the provisions of an Act entitled “An Act to regulate the construction of bridges over navigable waters,” approved March 23, 1906.

Sec. 2.

There is hereby conferred upon the State of Florida, through its highway department, all such rights and powers to enter

Right to acquire, condemn, etc., property.

upon land and to acquire, condemn, occupy, possess, and use real estate and other porperty needed for the location, construction, operation, and maintenance of such bridge and its approaches as are possessed by railroad corporations for railroad purposes or by bridge corporations for bridge purposes in the State in which such real estate or other property is situated, upon making just compensation therefor, to be ascertained and paid according to the laws of such State, and the proceedings therefor shall be the same as in the condemnation or expropriation of property for public purposes in such State.

Sec. 3.

The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby

Amendment.

expressly reserved.