Alabama § 32-5A-176 - Special Speed Limitation Over Bridge or Elevated Structure; Conclusive Evidence of Speed.

§ 32-5A-176. Special Speed Limitation Over Bridge or Elevated Structure; Conclusive Evidence of Speed.

(a) No person shall drive a vehicle over any bridge or other elevated structure constituting a part of a highway at a speed that is greater than the maximum speed that can be safely maintained on the bridge or structure, when the bridge or structure is signposted as provided in this section.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (d), the Department of Transportation and local authorities on highways under their respective jurisdictions may conduct an investigation of any bridge or other elevated structure constituting a part of a highway, and if the department or local authority finds that the bridge or structure cannot safely withstand vehicles traveling at the speed otherwise permissible under this chapter, the department or local authority shall set a maximum vehicle speed that the structure can safely withstand, and shall cause or permit suitable signs stating the maximum speed to be erected and maintained before each end of the structure.

(c) Upon the trial of any person charged with a violation of this section, proof of the determination of the maximum speed by the Department of Transportation and the existence of the signs shall constitute conclusive evidence of the maximum speed that can be safely maintained on the bridge or structure.

(d) A municipality may not fix the speed at which motor vehicles may be operated on a county-maintained street, as defined in Section 11-49-80, located within the corporate limits of the municipality unless the municipality conducts an engineering and traffic investigation and receives written approval from the county engineer to fix the speed based on the results of that investigation.