Senate Bill 2475

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO DESIGNATE THAT BRIDGE ON U.S. HIGHWAY 45 WHICH SPANS MISSISSIPPI 19 IN MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, AS MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART, DEPARTMENT OF MISSISSIPPI, MEMORIAL BRIDGE; TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONSTRUCT TO DEPARTMENT DESIGN STANDARDS A CERTAIN HIGHWAY SEGMENT IN MARION COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) That the bridge on U.S. Highway 45 which spans Mississippi 19 in Meridian, Mississippi, shall be known and shall be designated as the "Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of Mississippi, Memorial Bridge."

(2) The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs approaching each end of the bridge described in subsection (1) of this section reflecting its name, and shall allow officers or official representatives of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of Mississippi, to affix a memorial plaque at some suitable location on the bridge.

SECTION 2. (1) The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall, if funds are available, construct to department design standards and may acquire by gift, purchase or eminent domain proceedings such property as may be necessary to perform construction of the following described segment of highway:

Southern District-Marion County:

An extension of Mississippi Highway 48 beginning at or near Sandy Hook and extending in an easterly direction across the Pearl River to an intersection with Mississippi Highway 43 at or near the Spring Cottage Community.

(2) The mileage of highway specifically designated in subsection (1) of this section shall be under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Department of Transportation for construction and maintenance and, together with the highways designated in Section 65-3-3, and all other laws adding links to the state designated highway system, are declared to be the state highway system of Mississippi.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.