Chap. 155.—An ACT to authorize the State Highway Commission to provide by-
passes through or around cities and incorporated towns, and to make the
provisions of general law with respect to certain roads and highways applicable
to such by-passes. [S B 86}

Approved March 9, 1942

I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That the
State Highway Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to
acquire by gift, purchase, exchange, condemnation or otherwise, such
lands or interests therein, necessary or proper for the purpose, and to
construct and improve thereon such by-passes through or around cities
and incorporated towns, as the said Commission may deem necessary for
the uses of the State Highway System; provided the respective cities and:
the incorporated towns of thirty-five hundred population, or more, ae-
cording to the last preceding United States census, by action of their
governing bodies agree to pay fifty per centum of all costs of such con-
struction and improvement, including the cost of rights of way, on that
portion of any such by-pass which is located within any such city or
incorporated town. The maintenance of that portion of a by-pass located
within a city or incorporated town shall be borne by the city or town.
However, the Highway Commission shall contribute to such maintenance
in accordance with the provisions of law governing its contribution to the
maintenance of streets, roads and bridges in such cities and incorporated
towns. At both ends of such by-passes through or around cities and
incorporated towns said Commission shall erect and maintain adequate
directional signs of sufficient size and suitable design to indicate clearly
the main route or routes leading directly into such cities and incorporated
towns. .

All the provisions of general law relating to the exercise of eminent

domain by the State Highway Commissioner shall be applicable to such
by-passes. .
The State Highway Commission is hereby authorized and empow-
ered to expend out of funds appropriated to the State Highway Com-
mission such funds as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of
this act.