http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/section/106Highways Act 1980An Act to consolidate the Highways Acts 1959 to 1971 and related enactments, with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission.1981-03-01texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-03-18Expert Participation2026-03-13 Part VI Construction of bridges over and tunnels under navigable waters and diversion <Abbreviation Expansion="et cetera" xml:lang="la">etc.</Abbreviation> of watercourses Construction of bridges over and tunnels under navigable waters Orders and schemes providing for construction of bridges over or tunnels under navigable waters.1061Provision may be made by an order made by the Minister under this subsection or under section 10 above (orders for trunk roads) for the construction of a bridge over or a tunnel under any specified navigable waters as part of a trunk road.2Provision may be made by a scheme under section 16 above (schemes for special roads) for the construction of a bridge over or a tunnel under specified navigable waters as part of a special road.3Provision may be made by a scheme made by a local highway authority or a strategic highways company under this subsection, and confirmed by the Minister, for the construction of a bridge over or a tunnel under specified navigable waters as part of a highway or proposed highway which is or is to be a highway (other than a special road) maintainable at the public expense by the authority or company.4Provision may be made by an order under section 14 above (roads that cross or join trunk or classified roads) or section 18 above (supplementary orders relating to special roads)—afor the construction of a bridge over or tunnel under specified navigable waters as part of a highway which is to be altered or constructed in pursuance of the order;bwhere the order authorises the highway authority by whom it is made to provide a new means of access to any premises from a highway, for the access to be provided by means of a bridge over specified navigable waters and for the construction of the bridge.4ASubsections (1) and (3) are subject to section 33(4) of the Planning Act 2008 (exclusion of powers to make or confirm orders or schemes in relation to highways for which development consent required) and section 20(3) of the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 (exclusion of powers to make or confirm orders or schemes in relation to highways for which infrastructure consent required).5Parts I and III of Schedule 1 to this Act have effect as to the making of an order under subsection (1) above, Parts II and III of that Schedule have effect as to the making of a scheme under subsection (3) above and Schedule 2 to this Act has effect as to the validity and date of operation of any such order or scheme.6A scheme under subsection (3) above may be submitted to the Minister jointly by any two or more ... highway authorities, and any such scheme may determine which of those authorities is to be the highway authority for the bridge or tunnel or any part of it, and may provide—afor the performance by that authority, in relation to the bridge or tunnel or that part of it, of any of the highway functions of any other authority who are party to the application, andbfor the making of contributions by that other authority to the highway authority in respect of expenditure incurred in the performance of those functions.7References in this section, in relation to any order or scheme, to specified navigable waters are references to such navigable waters (whether the sea, a river or other waters) as may be specified in the order or scheme.8References in the following provisions of this Part of this Act to an order or scheme which provides for the construction of a bridge over or a tunnel under navigable waters are references to any order or scheme made under or by virtue of subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) above.S. 106(4A) inserted (1.3.2010) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), ss. 36, 241, Sch. 2 para. 26 (with s. 226); S.I. 2010/101, art. 2 (with art. 6)Words in s. 106(3) inserted (5.3.2015) by Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7), s. 57(1), Sch. 1 para. 34(2)(a); S.I. 2015/481, reg. 2(a)Words in s. 106(3) inserted (5.3.2015) by Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7), s. 57(1), Sch. 1 para. 34(2)(b); S.I. 2015/481, reg. 2(a)Word in s. 106(6) omitted (5.3.2015) by virtue of Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7), s. 57(1), Sch. 1 para. 34(3); S.I. 2015/481, reg. 2(a)Words in s. 106(4A) inserted (W.) (15.12.2025) by Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 3), s. 147(2), Sch. 3 para. 2(6) (with s. 84(5)); S.I. 2025/698, art. 3(l)