Revised Code of Washington
Wash. Rev. Code § 47.52.020 (2026)
Powers of highway authorities—State facility, county road crossings
✓ current as of May 2026
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The highway authorities of the state, counties, and incorporated cities and towns, acting alone or in cooperation with each other, or with any federal, state, or local agency, or any other state having authority to participate in the construction and maintenance of highways, may plan, designate, establish, regulate, vacate, alter, improve, construct, maintain, and provide limited access facilities for public use wherever the authority or authorities are of the opinion that traffic conditions, present or future, will justify the special facilities. However, upon county roads within counties, the state or county authorities are subject to the consent of the county legislative authority, except that where a state limited access facility crosses a county road the department may, without the consent of the county legislative authority, close off the county road so that it will not intersect such limited access facility.
The department may, in constructing or relocating any state highway, cross any county road at grade without obtaining the consent of the county legislative authority, and in so doing may revise the alignment of the county road to the extent that the department finds necessary for reasons of traffic safety or practical engineering considerations.
[ 1984 c 7 s 239; 1961 c 13 s 47.52.020. Prior: 1957 c 235 s 2; prior: 1953 c 30 s 1; 1951 c 167 s 4; 1947 c 202 s 2, part; Rem. Supp. 1947 s 6402-61, part.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2
cases, 1958–1973 · leading case: State Ex Rel. Sternoff v. SUP'R CT. FOR KING CTY., 325 P.2d 300 (Wash. 1958).
State Ex Rel. Sternoff v. SUP'R CT. FOR KING CTY., 325 P.2d 300 (Wash. 1958). “RCW 47.52.020 provides, in part: “The highway authorities of the state .”
Peden v. City of Seattle, 510 P.2d 1169 (Wash. Ct. App. 1973). “See RCW 47.52.020 1 and RCW 47.01.060. 2 By instructing the highway authorities to coordinate the development of public highways and urban transportation systems, the legislature is exercising its legitimate police power.”
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