{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/56-537.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/56-537.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/56-537.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/56-537.html"}],"law_id":370558,"edition_id":2,"section_id":370558,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-537","catch_line":"Construction of highways and use of public funds in the public interest","history":"1988, c. 649; 1993, c. 732; 2022, c. 234.","full_text":"The General Assembly finds that there is a compelling public need for rapid construction of safe and efficient highways for the purpose of travel within the Commonwealth and that it is in the public interest to encourage construction of additional, safe, convenient, and economic highway facilities by private parties, provided that adequate safeguards are provided against default in the construction and operation obligations of the operators of roadways. The public interest shall include without limitation the relative speed of the construction of the project and the relative cost efficiency of private construction of the project. The General Assembly further finds that the use of public funds for the purposes set out in this section is in the public interest and that this chapter is necessary for the public convenience, safety, and welfare.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1382040,"text":"The General Assembly finds that there is a compelling public need for rapid construction of safe and efficient highways for the purpose of travel within the Commonwealth and that it is in the public interest to encourage construction of additional, safe, convenient, and economic highway facilities by private parties, provided that adequate safeguards are provided against default in the construction and operation obligations of the operators of roadways. The public interest shall include without limitation the relative speed of the construction of the project and the relative cost efficiency of private construction of the project. The General Assembly further finds that the use of public funds for the purposes set out in this section is in the public interest and that this chapter is necessary for the public convenience, safety, and welfare.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":52778,"edition_id":2,"name":"Virginia Highway Corporation Act of 1988","identifier":"20","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":39,"parent_id":52702,"metadata":{"child_laws":18,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:04:30","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:45","permalink":{"id":1477409,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52778,"identifier":"20","token":"56\/20","url":"\/56\/20\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52702,"edition_id":2,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":121,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":710,"child_structures":93},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:03:25","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:34","permalink":{"id":1475475,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52702,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":370556,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-535","catch_line":"Title","url":"\/56-535\/","token":"56\/20\/56-535","metadata":false},{"id":370557,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-536","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-536\/","token":"56\/20\/56-536","metadata":false},{"id":370558,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-537","catch_line":"Construction of highways and use of public funds in the public interest","url":"\/56-537\/","token":"56\/20\/56-537","metadata":false},{"id":370559,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-538","catch_line":"Prerequisite for construction and operation","url":"\/56-538\/","token":"56\/20\/56-538","metadata":false},{"id":370560,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-539","catch_line":"Certificate of authority","url":"\/56-539\/","token":"56\/20\/56-539","metadata":false},{"id":370567,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-540","catch_line":"Application","url":"\/56-540\/","token":"56\/20\/56-540","metadata":false},{"id":370568,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-541","catch_line":"Eminent domain","url":"\/56-541\/","token":"56\/20\/56-541","metadata":false},{"id":370569,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-542","catch_line":"Powers of the Commission","url":"\/56-542\/","token":"56\/20\/56-542","metadata":false},{"id":370570,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-543","catch_line":"Powers and duties of roadway operator","url":"\/56-543\/","token":"56\/20\/56-543","metadata":false},{"id":370571,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-544","catch_line":"Board approval; inspection agreement with Department","url":"\/56-544\/","token":"56\/20\/56-544","metadata":false},{"id":370572,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-545","catch_line":"Insurance; sovereign immunity","url":"\/56-545\/","token":"56\/20\/56-545","metadata":false},{"id":370573,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-546","catch_line":"Local approvals","url":"\/56-546\/","token":"56\/20\/56-546","metadata":false},{"id":370574,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-547","catch_line":"Utility crossings","url":"\/56-547\/","token":"56\/20\/56-547","metadata":false},{"id":370575,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-548","catch_line":"Highway and roadway crossings","url":"\/56-548\/","token":"56\/20\/56-548","metadata":false},{"id":370576,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-549","catch_line":"Default","url":"\/56-549\/","token":"56\/20\/56-549","metadata":false},{"id":370578,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-550","catch_line":"Police powers; violations of law","url":"\/56-550\/","token":"56\/20\/56-550","metadata":false},{"id":370579,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-551","catch_line":"Termination of certificate; dedication of assets","url":"\/56-551\/","token":"56\/20\/56-551","metadata":false},{"id":370580,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-552","catch_line":"Improvement Fund","url":"\/56-552\/","token":"56\/20\/56-552","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":370557,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-536","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-536\/","token":"56\/20\/56-536","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":370559,"structure_id":52778,"section_number":"56-538","catch_line":"Prerequisite for construction and operation","url":"\/56-538\/","token":"56\/20\/56-538","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-537\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1988. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 649 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1988 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1993, chapter 732; in 2022, chapter 234<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1477419,"object_type":"law","relational_id":370558,"identifier":"56-537","token":"56\/20\/56-537","url":"\/56-537\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-537\/","token":"56\/20\/56-537","dublin_core":{"Title":"Construction of highways and use of public funds in the public interest","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-537","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The General Assembly finds that there is a compelling public need for rapid construction of safe and efficient highways<\/span> for the purpose of travel within the Commonwealth and that it is in the public interest to encourage construction of additional, safe, convenient, and economic highway<\/span> facilities by private parties, provided that adequate safeguards are provided against default<\/span> in the construction and operation<\/span> obligations of the operators<\/span> of roadways<\/span>. The public interest shall include without limitation the relative speed of the construction of the project and the relative cost efficiency of private construction of the project. The General Assembly further finds that the use of public funds for the purposes set out in this section is in the public interest and that this chapter is necessary for the public convenience, safety, and welfare.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAYS AND USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST (\u00a7\n56-537)\n\nThe General Assembly finds that there is a compelling public need for rapid\nconstruction of safe and efficient highways for the purpose of travel within the\nCommonwealth and that it is in the public interest to encourage construction of\nadditional, safe, convenient, and economic highway facilities by private\nparties, provided that adequate safeguards are provided against default in the\nconstruction and operation obligations of the operators of roadways. The public\ninterest shall include without limitation the relative speed of the construction\nof the project and the relative cost efficiency of private construction of the\nproject. The General Assembly further finds that the use of public funds for the\npurposes set out in this section is in the public interest and that this chapter\nis necessary for the public convenience, safety, and welfare.\n\nHISTORY: 1988, c. 649; 1993, c. 732; 2022, c. 234.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}