MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Local and Private

By: Senator(s) Ferris

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF WARREN COUNTY TO CLOSE THE OLD MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO SELL SUCH BRIDGE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The Board of Supervisors of Warren County, Mississippi, having acquired a combined railroad and highway bridge over the Mississippi River (as authorized by Chapter 44, Laws of the Extraordinary Session of 1935, or Chapter 283, Laws of the Regular Session of 1938), having discharged the bridge revenue bonds which were issued for the purpose of financing the cost of such acquisition and having discontinued any tolls imposed on vehicles crossing such bridge, is hereby authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to close the bridge to vehicular traffic over the entire expanse of the bridge and over the entire property used in connection with, or as an appurtenance to, the bridge.

(2) The Board of Supervisors of Warren County is also authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to sell all or any portion of the real property and personal property relating to such bridge, including, but not limited to, the following: estates, easements, prescriptions, revenues, franchises, privileges, grants, rights, immunities, powers, buildings, fixtures, structures, erections and rights therein or thereto, pipelines, cable lines, wire lines, transmission lines, pole lines, electrical and mechanical signal systems, lighting systems, tracks, appliances, piers, dams, dikes, viaducts, affixed substructure and superstructure equipment and material, buildings, and toll stations; also including, but not limited to, all right, title and interest in and to a certain franchise or license given and granted to the Vicksburg Bridge and Terminal Company, an Arkansas corporation, by an Act of the Congress of the United States of America approved May 3, 1926, entitled "An Act granting the consent of Congress to the Vicksburg Bridge and Terminal Company to construct, maintain and operate a bridge across the Mississippi River at or near the City of Vicksburg, Mississippi" (as amended by an Act of Congress, approved March 2, 1929) and duly and regularly assigned to Warren County, Mississippi; and also including, but not limited to, all right, title and interest in and to a certain license or grant of easement or right-of-way given and granted by an Act of the Congress of the United States of America, approved March 15, 1928 (Public Law No. 173-70th Congress), to Vicksburg Bridge and Terminal Company, a Delaware corporation, and duly and regularly conveyed and assigned to Warren County, Mississippi, and all rights, powers, privileges, licenses, easements and franchises incident thereto, and the license or grant given by such act to locate, construct, maintain and operate railroad, telephone, telegraph, streetcar, water, gas, oil, electric light and power lines, and a highway for vehicular traffic upon, over and across certain parcels of land lying in the Vicksburg National Military Park in Warren County, Mississippi, all forming a part of or appertaining to or used, occupied or enjoyed in connection with the bridge traversing the Mississippi River from a point on the east bank of the river at or near the City of Vicksburg, Mississippi, to a point opposite thereto on the west bank of the river at or near the Village of Delta, in the Parish of Madison, Louisiana.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.