STATE OF FLORIDA




oW Tollahossee, Florida 32304 WALTER L. REVELL ..... Secretary Telephone, (904) 599-6321
REUBIN O'D. ASKEW DIVISION DIRECTORS
GOVERNOR JAY W. BROWN ............. Road Operations .... Mass Transit Operations
RAY G. L'AMOREAUX ...... Planning and Programming TOM WEBB, JR. .... Administration

September 15, 1972






Senator Ray C. Knopke
4207 East Lake Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33610

Dear Senator Knopke:

This is to acknowledge your letter of September 8, 1972 concerning
the status of construction on the Interstate 4 complex of bridges over
the Tampa Bypass Canal in Hillsborough County.

The Department of Transportation is aware that the Appropriation
Bill provides it is the intent of the Legislature that the Department
of Transportation shall plan and construct or relocate necessary
highway bridges in the major Water Management Districts upon request of
the Department of Natural Resources from primary road funds available
to the Department of Transportation.

With this mandate from the Legislature, the Department has proceeded
with the development of plans for the 1-4 bridge complex at the Tampa
Bypass Canal, so there will be no delay as far as plan preparation is
concerned. However, the constitutionality of the Appropriation Act
providing that the Department of Transportation plan, construct and/or
relocate bridge structures in major Water Management Districts has been
challenged and is presently before the Supreme Court. It is my under-
standing that a ruling should be handed down by the Supreme Court within
the next month.

We have therefore taken no action towards letting this project to
contract. We will have the plans ready to advertise for contract letting,
awaiting the decision of the Court.

Thank you for your interest in this matter.

Sincerely, /


Iter L. Revell
Secretary
WLR:bs
cc: Mr. C. W. Monts De Oca