An Act to amend and supplement the Federal-Aid Road Act approved July 11, 1916 (39 Stat. 355), as amended and supplemented, to authorize appropriations for continuing the construction of highways, and for other purposes
PL 82-413 (H.R.7340), enacted 06/25/1952

158 
PUBLIC LAW 412-JUNE 25, 1952 
[66 ST A T 
ties,,except that such per diem rate shall not be greater than the 
comparable per diem operating cost per patient at the National 
Leprosarium, Carville, Louisiana." 
Approved June 25, 1952. 
June 25, 1952 
[H.R.5990] 
Public Law 412 
CHAPTER 461 
AN ACT 
To amend the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950. 
64 Stat. 1249. 
5 0 u s e 
a p p . 
2281. 
Be it enaxited hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the second pro-
viso of subsection 201 (e) and the third proviso of subsection 201 (h) 
of the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950 (64 Stat. 249), are botl 
amended to read as follows: '''"Provided further^ That the Adminis-
trator is authorized to lease real property required for the purpose of 
carrying out the provisions of this subsection, but shall not acquire 
fee title to property unless specifically authorized by Act of Congress." 
Approved June 25, 1952. 
Public Law 413 
CHAPTER 462 
June 25, 1952 
[H.R. 7340] 
F e d e r a l - A i d 
H i g h w a y Act of 
1952. 
23 u s e 9a note. 
Appropriation. 
Apportionment. 
AN ACT 
To amend and supplement the Federal-Aid Road Act approved July 11, 1916 (39 
Stat. 355), as amended and supplemented, to authorize appropriations for 
continuing the construction of highways, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress a^seTnbled^ That, for the purpose 
of carrying out the provisions of the Federal-Aid Road Act approved 
July 11, 1916 (39 Stat. 355), and all Acts amendatory thereof and 
supplementary thereto, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated 
the sum of $550,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1954, and a 
like sum for the fiscal year ending June 30,1955. 
The sum herein authorized for each fiscal year shall be available for 
expenditure as follows: 
(a) $247,500,000 for projects on the Federal-aid primary highway 
system. 
(b) $165,000,000 for projects on the Federal-aid secondary highway 
system. 
(c) $137,500,000 for projects on the Federal-aid primary highway 
system in urban areas. 
The sums authorized by this section for each fiscal year, respectively, 
shall be apportioned among the several States in the manner now pro-
vided by law and in accordance with the formulas set forth in section 4 
of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944, approved December 20,1944 
(58 Stat. 838). 
Any sums apportioned to any State under the provision of this sec-
tion shall be available for expenditure in that State for two years after 
the close of the fiscal year for which such sums are authorized, and any 
amount so apportioned remaining unexpended at the end of such period 
shall lapse: Provided^ That such funds for any fiscal year shall be 
deemed to have been expended if a sum equal to the tCtal of the sums 
apportioned to the State for such fiscal year is covered by formal 
agreements with the Commissioner of Public Roads for the improve-
ment of specific projects as provided by this Act. 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 413-JUNE 25, 1952 
159 
SEC. 2. For the purpose of expediting the construction, reconstruc-
tion, and improvement, inclusive of necessary bridges and tunnels, of 
the national system of interstate highways, designated in accordance 
with the provisions of section 7 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 
1944 (58 Stat. 838), there is hereby authorized to be appropriated the 
additional sum of $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30,1954, 
and a like additional sum for the fiscal year ending June 30,1955. The 
sum herein authorized for each fiscal year shall be apportioned among 
the several States in the manner now provided by law for the appor-
tionment of Federal-aid primary funds: Provided, That the Federal 
share payable on account of any project provided for by funds made 
available under the provisions of this section shall be determined in 
the same manner as now provided by law for projects on said Federal-
aid primary system. 
SEC. 3. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of section 23 
of the Federal Highway Act (42 Stat. 218), as amended and supple-
mented, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated (1) for forest 
highways the sum of $22,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 
1954, and a like sum for the fiscal year ending June 30,1955; and (2) 
for forest development roads and trails the sum of $22,500,000 for the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 1954, and a like sum for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1955: Provided, That with respect to any proposed 
construction or reconstruction of a timber access road, advisory public 
hearings shall be held at a place convenient or adjacent to the area of 
construction or reconstruction with notice and reasonable opportunity 
for interested persons to present their views as to the practicability 
and feasibility of such construction or reconstruction: And he it fur-
ther providea, That the appropriation herein authorized for forest 
highways shall be apportioned by the Secretary of Commerce for 
expenditure in the several States, Alaska, and Puerto Rico in accord-
ance with the provision of section 3 of the Federal-Aid Highway 
Act of 1950. 
SEC. 4. (a) For the construction, reconstruction, and improvement 
of roads and trails, inclusive of necessary bridges, in national parks, 
monuments, and other areas administered by the National Park Serv-
ice, including areas authorized to be established as national parks and 
monuments, and national park and monument approach roads author-
ized by the Act of January 31,1931 (46 Stat. 1053), as amended, there 
is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of $10,000,000 for the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 1954, and a like sum for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1955. 
(b) For the construction, reconstruction, improvement, and main-
tenance of parkways, authorized by Acts of Congress, on lands to 
which title is vested in the United States, there is hereby authorized to 
be appropriated the sum of $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 
30, 1954, and a like sum for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1955: 
Provided, That the limitation of $13,000,000 on the cost of construction 
of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway prescribed by the Act of 
August 3, 1950 (64 Stat. 400), is hereby increased to $14,500,000 and 
the additional sum of $1,500,000 hereby authorized shall be available 
for contract immediately upon the passage of this Act. 
(c) For the construction, improvement, and maintenance of Indian 
reservation roads and bridges and roads and bridges to provide access 
to Indian reservations and Indian lands under the provisions of the 
Act approved May 26, 1928 (45 Stat. 750), there is hereby authorized 
to be appropriated the sum of $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending 
June 30, 1954, and a like sum for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1955: 
Additional ap-
propriation. 
23 use 60. 
Federal share. 
Forest roads. 
23 use 23. 
23 use 23 note. 
National parks, 
etc. 
16 use 8»-8c. 
Baltimore-Wash-
ington Parkway. 
Indi an reserva-
tions. 
25 use 318a. 
160 
PUBLIC LAW 413~JUNE 25, 1952 
[66 ST A T , 
Nicaragua. 
Restrictions. 
61 Stat., 
p. 1129. 
Pt, 2, 
Survey and con-
struction. 
Int er-American 
Highway. 
Provided, That the location, type, and design of all roads and bridges 
constructed shall be approved by the Commissioner of Public Eoads 
before any expenditures are made thereon, and all such construction 
shall be under the general supervision of the Commissioner of Public 
Roads. 
SEC. 5. Recognizing the mutual benefits that will accrue to the 
Republic of Nicaragua and to the United States from the completion 
of the road from San Benito to Rama in said Republic of Nicaragua, 
the construction of which road was begun and partially completed 
pursuant to an agreement between said Republic and the United States, 
there is hereby authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 1953, and a like sum for the fiscal year ending 
June 30, 1954, for the construction of such road, to be available until 
expended. 
No expenditure shall be made hereunder for the construc-
tion of said road until a request therefor shall have been received by 
the Secretary of State from the Government of the Republic of Nica-
ragua nor until an agreement shall have been entered into by said 
Republic with the Secretary of State which shall provide, in part, that 
said Republic— 
(1) will provide, without participation of funds herein author-
ized, all necessary right-of-way for the construction of said high-
way, which right-of-way shall be of a minimum width where 
practicable of one hundred meters in rural areas and fifty meters 
m municipalities and shall forever be held inviolate as a part of 
the highway for public use; 
(2) will not impose any highway toll, or permit any such toll 
to be charged for the use of said highway by vehicles or persons; 
(3) will not levy or assess, directly or indirectly, any fee, tax, or 
other charge for the use of said road by vehicles or persons from 
the United States that does not apply equally to vehicles or persons 
of such Republic; 
(4) will continue to grant reciprocal recognition of vehicle reg-
istration and drivers' licenses in accordance with the provisions 
of the Convention for the Regulation of Inter-American Auto-
motive Traffic, which was opened for signature at the Pan Ameri-
can Union in Washington on December 15, 1943, and to which 
such Republic and the United States are parties; or any other 
treaty or international convention establishing similar reciprocal 
recognition; and 
(5) will maintain said road after its completion in proper con-
dition adequately to serve the needs of present and future traffic. 
(b) The funds appropriated pursuant to this authorization shall be 
available for expenditure in accordance with the terms of this Act for 
the survey and construction of the said road from San Benito to Rama 
and for the survey but not for the construction of a road from Rama 
to El Bluff in the Republic of Nicaragua without being matched by 
said Republic, and all expenditures made under the provisions of this 
Act for materials, equipment, and supplies, shall, wheneverpracticable, 
be made for products of the United States or of the Republic of 
Nicaragua. 
SEC. 6. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of section 1 
of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for cooperation with Central 
American Republics in the construction of the Inter-American High-
way" approved December 26, 1941 (55 Stat. 860), as amended by sec-
tion 11 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1950, approved September 
7, 1950 (64 Stat. 785), there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, 
in addition to the sums heretofore authorized, the sum of $8,000,000 
66 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 413-JUNE 25, 1952 
161 
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1953, and a like sum for the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 1954, to be available until expended, to enable 
the United States to cooperate with the Governments of the American 
Republics situated in Central America—that is, with the Governments 
of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, and Panama—in the survey and construction of the Inter-
American Highway within the borders of the aforesaid Republics, 
respectively. 
Not to exceed one-third of the appropriation author-
ized for each fiscal year may be expended without requiring the coun-
try or countries in which such sums may be expended to match any 
part thereof, if the Secretary of State shall find that the cost of con-
structing said highway in such country or countries will be beyond 
their reasonable capacity to bear. 
SEC. 7. There is hereby authorized an emergency fund in the amount 
of $10,000,000 for expenditure by the Commissioner of Public Roads, 
in accordance with the provisions of the Federal-Aid Highway Act, 
as amended and supplemented, after receipt of an application therefor 
from the highway department of any State, in the repair or reconstruc-
tion of highways and bridges on the Federal-aid highway systems, 
which he shall find have suffered serious damage as the result of disaster 
over a wide area, such as by floods, hurricanes, tidal waves, earth-
quakes, severe storms, landslides, or other catastrophes in any part 
of the United States. 
The appropriation of such moneys as may be 
necessary for the initial establishment of this fund and for its replen-
ishment on an annual basis is hereby autliorized: Provided^ That, 
pending the appropriation of said sum, or its replenishment, the Com-
missioner of Public Roads may expend, from existing Federal-Aid 
highway appropriations, such sums as may be necessary for the 
immediate prosecution of the work herein authorized, such appropria-
tions to be reimbursed from the appropriation herein authorized when 
made: Provided further^ That no expenditures shall be made here-
under with respect to any such catastrophe in any State unless an 
emergency has been declared by the Governor of such State and con-
curred in by the Secretary of Commerce: And provided further^ That 
the Federal share payable on account of any repair or reconstruction 
project provided for by funds made available under this section shall 
not exceed 50 per centum of the cost thereof. 
SEC. 8. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of section 10 
of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1950 (64 Stat. 785) there is hereby 
authorized to be appropriated for the survey, construction, reconstruc-
tion, and maintenance of main roads through unappropriated or unre-
served public lands, nontaxable Indian lands, or other Federal 
reservations the sum of $2,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 
1954, and a like sum for the fiscal year ending June 30,1955, to remain 
available until expended. 
SEC, 9. The Commissioner of Public Roads is authorized and 
directed to assist in carrying out the action program of the President's 
Highway Safety Conference and to cooperate with the State highway 
departments and other agencies in this program to advance the cause 
of safety on the streets and highways: Provided^ That not to exceed 
$150,000 shall be expended annually for the purposes of this section. 
SEC, 10, For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of section 6 
of the Defense Highway Act of 1941 (55 Stat. 765), as amended, and notl. 
section 12 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1950 (64 Stat. 785), as 
amended, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated the additional 
sum of $50,000,000 to remain available until expended: Provided^ 
That whenever any project for the construction or improvement of a 
circumferential highway around a city or of a radial intracity route 
Emergency fund. 
42 Stat. 212. 
23 use 1. 
Restrictions. 
Federal reserva-
tions. 
P r e s i d e n t ' s 
Highway S af 
ety 
Conference. 
Access roads. 
23 u s e 106 and 
162 
PUBLIC LAW 413-JUNE 25, 1952 
[66 S T A T , 
2 3 u s e 
60-63, 
21, 23c, 3a note • 
16 use 8b. 
Separability. 
Effective date. 
Short title. 
thereto submitted by any State, is certified by the Secretary of Defense, 
or such other official as the President may designate, as being import-
ant for civilian or military defense, such project may be constructed 
under the authorization in this section and in accordance with the 
conditions contained therein: And he it further provided,, That with 
respect to any proposed construction or reconstruction of a timber 
access road under the authority contained in this section, advisory 
public hearings shall be held at a place convenient or adjacent to the 
area of construction or reconstruction with notice and reasonable 
opportunity for interested persons to present their views as to the 
practicability and feasibility of such construction or reconstruction. 
SEO. 11. All provisions of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944, 
approved December 20, 1944 (58 Stat. 838); the Federal-Aid High-
way Act of 1948, approved June 29, 1948 (62 Stat. 1105); and the 
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1950, approved September 7, 1950, not 
inconsistent with this Act, shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 12. If any section, subsection, or other provision of this Act 
or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, 
the remainder of this Act and the application of such section, subsec-
tion, or other provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be 
affected thereby. 
SEC. 13. That all Acts or parts of Acts in any way inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, and this Act shall take 
effect on its passage. 
SEC. 14. This Act may be cited as the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 
1952. 
Approved June 25, 1952.