N.Y. Highway Law Section 131-E
Bridges over county lines

The board shall provide for the care, maintenance, preservation and repair of any draw or other bridge intersecting the boundary line of counties or towns, which bridge is by law a joint charge on such counties or towns, or on the towns in which it is situated; and to severally apportion, as it may deem equitable, the expenses thereof on the towns respectively liable therefor, or on the respective counties when liable; but when such bridge shall span any portion of the navigable tide-waters of this state, forming, at the point of crossing, the boundary line between two counties, such expense shall be a joint and equal charge upon the two counties in which the bridge is situated, and the board of supervisors in each of such counties shall apportion such expense among the several towns and cities in their respective counties, or upon any or either of such towns and cities, as in their judgment may seem proper; and if there be in either of said counties, a city, the boundaries of which are the same as the boundaries of the county, then it shall be the duty of the common council of such city, to perform the duty hereby imposed upon the boards of supervisors; but no town or city not immediately adjacent to such waters at the points spanned by said bridge shall be liable for a larger proportion of such expense than the taxable property of such town or city bears to the whole amount of taxable property of such county. The board of supervisors of such counties or, in any city embracing the entire county and having no board of supervisors, the common council, shall have full control of such bridges. No such bridge shall be constructed unless the board of supervisors in each of such counties, and the common council of the city whose boundaries are the same as the boundary of the other county adjacent to such waters, shall first by resolution determine that such bridge is necessary for public convenience. Whenever any bridge now spanning any such navigable tide-waters or hereafter erected across any such navigable tide-waters, shall be condemned by the United States authorities as an obstruction to navigation, and shall be ordered removed, the county and city authorities having charge of such bridge, if they shall determine that such bridge shall be rebuilt, shall, as soon as practicable after such determination, cause plans to be prepared for the erection of the new bridge and the removal of any bridge so condemned as aforesaid, and within a reasonable time after the approval of any such plans by the United States authorities, the proper officers shall proceed with the construction of said new bridge. In case of any unreasonable delay on the part of the officer or officers charged with the duty of construction of such new bridge, such duty may be enforced by mandamus upon the application of any citizen interested in its performance.

Source: Section 131-E — Bridges over county lines, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/HAY/131-E (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Jan. 3, 2026).

110
Definitions 111
Payment and apportionment of cost among counties and towns 113
Annual statement of cost 114
Sources and use of county road fund moneys 115
Preparation of map showing proposed county road system 115–A
Abandonment of unused portions of town highways on county road system 115–B
Removal of road or part of road from county road system 115–C
Notice to municipalities where county roads are abandoned or revert to such municipalities 116
Statement and approval of proposed work 117
Construction and reconstruction of county roads 117–A
Highways in villages in Niagara county 117–B
Controlled-access highways in counties 117–C
Hawking, peddling, vending, sale of goods, wares or merchandise 117–D
Pedestrian overpass to be designated as the “Jennifer Bolender Memorial Overpass” 117–E
Pedestrian overpass to be designated as the “Police Officer Robert McLellan Memorial Overpass” 118
Acquisition by counties of lands for right-of-way and other purposes 118–A
Abandoning of parts of county highways 118–B
Entry upon lands by county superintendent 119
Purchase of lands 120
Petition to acquire lands 121
Commissioners of appraisal to be appointed 122
Duties of commissioners of appraisal 123
County treasurer to pay awards 125
Land may be sold or leased 126
Awarding of contracts 127
Payments from the county road fund 129
Maintenance and apportionment of cost 130
Bridges on county road system 131
County roads of additional width and increased cost at expense of village 131–A
Application 131–B
County highways and bridges 131–C
Location and construction of bridges 131–D
Construction by county of destroyed bridges 131–E
Bridges over county lines 131–F
Streets outside cities 131–G
Regulation of toll rates 131–H
Separate highway districts in certain counties 131–I
Boundary lines 131–J
Development of highways and other improvements in certain counties 131–K
County aid for construction and improvement of certain public highways and bridges in municipalities 133
Machinery, tools, equipment, implements, materials and supplies 133–A
Rental or hiring of county highway machinery, tools or equipment 134
Purchases by county purchasing agent 135
Snow removal, and cutting of weeds 135–A
Control of snow and ice conditions on county roads 136
Permits for work within the county road right of way 137
Maintenance of certain highways by a county 138
Bridge between Saratoga county and Warren county to be designated as the "Irving H 139
County liable for injuries caused by defective highways and bridges 139–A
Presentation of claims for torts
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Jan. 3, 2026

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 131-E. Bridges over county lines's source at nysenate​.gov

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