the said plan or section, except within the following limits Subject to the above provisions in regard to altering It shall be lawful for the company to diminish the radius of any curve described in the said plans to It shall be lawful for the company to make a tunnel, Limitations of General Powers. And with respect to the crossing of roads, or other inter- Crossing of roads. ferences therewith, it is enacted, "that if the line of the railway cross any turnpike-road or public highway, then (except where otherwise provided by the special act) either such road shall be carried over the railway or the rail Limitations of General Powers. Construction of bridges over roads. way shall be carried over such road, by means of a bridge (q), of the height and width, and with the ascent or descent, by this or the special act in that behalf provided; and such bridge, with the immediate approaches, and all other necessary works connected therewith, shall be executed and at all times thereafter maintained at the expense of the company" (r). (Id., s. 46, post, App., 171). "And every bridge to be erected for the purpose of carrying the railway over any road shall (except where otherwise provided by the special act) be built in conformity with the following regulations; (that is to say), The width of the arch shall be such as to leave there- (g) This section also contains a arch from the surface of the the level, (Id., s. 61, post, App., 175); and if they neglect to do so, two justices may inflict a penalty, and order it to be applied in executing the work in respect whereof the penalty was incurred. (Id., s. 62, post, App.. 175). As to the powers given to the Board of Trade in all cases where the railway crosses roads on a level, see ante, 91. (r) See the cases as to the construction of bridges, collected post, 363, 369. (8) A road on which toll gates are by law erected, and tolls taken thereat, is a turnpike road within the meaning of this section. The Northam Bridge and Roads Co. v. The London and Southampton Railway Co., 6 M. & W. 428; 1 Railway Cases, 653; post, 380. road shall not be less than sixteen feet for a space of The clear height of the arch for a space of nine feet The descent made in the road, in order to carry the There shall be a good and sufficient fence on each side of the bridge of not less than four feet, and on each side of the immediate approaches of such bridge of not less than three feet; The road over the bridge shall have a clear space between the fences thereof of thirty-five feet if the road be a turnpike-road, and twenty-five feet if a public carriage road, and twelve feet if a private road; The ascent shall not be more than one foot in thirty A A Limitations of General Powers, Construction of railway. bridges over Limitations of General Powers. Width of bridges need not exceed width of road in certain cases. Existing inclina tions of roads crossed or diverted need not be improved. feet if the road be a turnpike road; one foot in twenty feet if a public carriage road; and one foot in sixteen feet if a private carriage road, not being a tramroad or railroad; or, if the same be a tramroad or railroad, the ascent shall not be greater than as it existed at the passing of the special act. (Id., 50, post, App., 172). 8. But it is provided, that, in all cases where the average available width for the passage of carriages of any existing roads, within fifty yards of the points of crossing the same, is less than the width hereinbefore prescribed for bridges over or under the railway, the width of such bridges need not be greater than such average available width of such roads; but so, nevertheless, that such bridges be not of less width, in the case of a turnpike road or public carriage road, than twenty feet: Provided also, that, if at any time after the construction of the railway the average available width of any such road shall be increased beyond the width of such bridge on either side thereof, the company shall be bound, at their own expense, to increase the width of the said bridge to such extent as they may be required by the trustees or surveyors of such road, not exceeding the width of such road as so widened, or the maximum width herein or in the special act prescribed for a bridge in the like case over or under the railway. (Id., s. 51, post, App., 173). It is also provided, that, if the mesne inclination of any road within 250 yards of the point of crossing the same, or the inclination of such portion of any road as may require to be altered, or for which another road shall be substituted, shall be steeper than the inclination hereinbefore required to be preserved by the company, then the company may carry any such road over or under the railway, or may construct such altered or substituted road at an inclination not steeper than the said mesne inclination of the road so to be crossed, or of the road so requiring to be altered, or for which another road shall be substituted. (Id., s. 52, post, App., 173). If the company cross, raise, cut through, sink, or use any part of any road, public or private, so as to render it impassable for, or dangerous, or extraordinarily inconvenient to passengers or other persons, or carriages, they are required, before the commencement of any operations, to cause a sufficient road to be made, instead of the road to be interfered with, and to maintain such road, (Id., s. 53, post, App., 173); and, in default of making the substituted road, the company are liable to a heavy penalty; and any person sustaining special damage may maintain an action on the case. (Id., ss. 54, 55, post, App., 173). If the road interfered with as above mentioned can be restored compatibly with the formation and use of the railway, the company are required to restore it; if it cannot be restored, then the company are required to cause some other sufficiently substituted road to be put into a permanently substantial condition; and the former road must be restored, or the substituted road provided, within a certain period, which is prescribed, otherwise a penalty is incurred. (Id., ss. 56, 57, post, App., 174). If the company use or interfere with any road, they are required from time to time to repair and make good all damage done by them (t); and, in case of difference, two justices may decide the question in the manner prescribed. (Id., s. 58, post, App., 174). Limitations of General Powers. Before roads are others must be interfered with, substituted. accommodation IV. The company are required to make, and at all times Construction of maintain (u), the following works, for the accommodation works. (See the cases as to the diversion, &c. of roads, collected post, 381. (u) See the cases relating to the repairing of railway works, collected post, 385. |