---
kind: "section"
citation: "23 U.S.C. § 210"
title: "23"
title_heading: "Highways"
number: "210"
heading: "Defense access roads"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/23/210"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — Other Highways"
---

# §210. Defense access roads

- (a) **Authorization.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** When defense access roads are certified to the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) as important to the national defense by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of Defense or such other official as the President may designate, the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) is authorized, out of the funds appropriated for defense access roads, to provide for—
    - (A) the [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) and [maintenance](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-13) of defense access roads (including bridges, tubes, tunnels, and culverts or other hydraulic appurtenances on those roads) to—
      - (i) military reservations;
      - (ii) defense industry sites;
      - (iii) air or sea ports that are necessary for or are planned to be used for the deployment or sustainment of members of the Armed Forces, equipment, or supplies; or
      - (iv) sources of raw materials;
    - (B) the reconstruction or enhancement of, or improvements to, those roads to ensure the continued effective use of the roads, regardless of current or projected increases in mean tides, recurrent flooding, or other weather-related conditions or natural disasters; and
    - (C) replacing existing [highways](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) and [highway](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) connections that are shut off from general public use by necessary closures, closures due to mean sea level fluctuation and flooding, or restrictions at—
      - (i) military reservations;
      - (ii) air or sea ports that are necessary for or are planned to be used for the deployment or sustainment of members of the Armed Forces, equipment, or supplies; or
      - (iii) defense industry sites.
  - (2) If it is determined that an action of the Department of Defense will cause a significant transportation impact to access to a military reservation, the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of Defense shall conduct a transportation needs assessment to assess the magnitude of the improvement required to address the impact. The [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of Defense, in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of Transportation, shall determine the magnitude of the required improvements without regard to the extent to which traffic generated by the reservation is greater than other traffic in the vicinity of the reservation.
- (b) Funds appropriated for the purposes of this section shall be available, without regard to [apportionment](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-1) among the several [States](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28), for paying all or any part of the cost of [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4), reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of, or enhancements to, defense access roads.
- (c) Funds appropriated for defense maneuvers and exercises, may be used by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) in areas certified to the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of Defense as maneuver areas for such activities for [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4), [maintenance](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-13), reconstruction, enhancement, improvement, and repair as may be necessary to keep the [highways](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) in those areas, which have been or may be used for training of the Armed Forces, in suitable condition for—
  - (1) that training; and
  - (2) repairing the damage to those [highways](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) caused by—
    - (A) weather-related events, increases in mean high tide levels, recurrent flooding, or natural disasters; or
    - (B) the operations of men and equipment in such training.
- (d) Whenever any [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) for the [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) of a circumferential [highway](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) around a city or of a radial intracity route thereto submitted by any [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) is certified by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of Defense, or such other official as the President may designate, as being important for civilian or military defense, such [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) may be constructed out of the funds heretofore or hereafter authorized to be appropriated for defense access roads.
- (e) If the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) shall determine that the [State transportation department](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-31) of any [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) is unable to obtain possession and the right to enter upon and use the required rights-of-way, lands, or interest in lands, improved or unimproved, required for any [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) authorized by this section with sufficient promptness, the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) is authorized to acquire, enter upon, take possession thereof, and expend funds for [projects](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) thereon, prior to approval of title by the Attorney General, in the name of the United States, such rights-of-way, lands, or interest in lands as may be required in such [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) for such [projects](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) by purchase, donation, condemnation, or otherwise in accordance with the laws of the United States (including sections [3114](/usc/40/3114.md) to [3116](/usc/40/3116.md) and [3118](/usc/40/3118.md) of title 40). The cost incurred by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) in acquiring any such rights-of-way, lands, or interest in lands may include the cost of examination and abstract of title, certificate of title, advertising, and any fees incidental to such acquisition; and shall be payable out of the funds available for paying the cost or the Federal share of the cost of the [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) for which such rights-of-way, lands, or interests in lands are acquired. The [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) is further authorized and directed by proper deed executed in the name of the United States to convey any lands or interests in lands acquired in any [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) under the provisions of prior Acts or of this section to the [State transportation department](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-31) of such [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) or to such political subdivision thereof as its laws may provide, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) and the [State transportation department](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-31), or political subdivisions to which the conveyance is to be made.
- (f) The provisions of [section 112 of this title](/usc/23/112.md) are applicable to defense access roads.
- (g) If the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) shall determine that it is necessary for the expeditious completion of any defense access road [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) may advance to any [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) out of funds appropriated for defense access roads transferred and available to the Department of Transportation the Federal share of the cost of [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) thereof to enable the [State transportation department](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-31) to make prompt payments for acquisition of rights-of-way, and for the [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) as it progresses. The sums so advanced shall be deposited in a special fund by the [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) official authorized by [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) law to receive such funds, to be disbursed solely upon vouchers approved by the [State transportation department](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-31) for rights-of-way which have been or are being acquired and for [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) and other activities actually performed under this section. Upon determination by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) that funds advanced to any [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) under the provisions of this subsection are no longer required, the amount of the advance which is determined to be in excess of requirements for the [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) shall be repaid upon demand by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27), and such repayments shall be returned to the credit of the appropriation from which the funds were advanced.
- (h) Funds appropriated for the purposes of this section shall be available to pay the cost of repairing damage caused to [highways](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) by the operation of vehicles and equipment in the [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) of classified military installations and facilities for ballistic missiles if the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) shall determine that the [State transportation department](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-31) of any [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) is, or has been, unable to prevent such damage by restrictions upon the use of such [highways](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) without interference with, or delay in, the completion of a contract for the [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) of such military reservations or installations. This subsection shall apply notwithstanding any provision of contract holding a party thereto responsible for such damage, if the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of Defense or his designee shall determine, in fact, that [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) estimates and the bid of such party did not include allowance for repairing such damage. This subsection shall apply to damage caused by [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) work commenced prior to June 1, 1961, and still in progress on that date and [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) work which is commenced or for which a contract is awarded on or after June 1, 1961.
- (i) **Repair of Certain Damages and Infrastructure.—** The funds appropriated to carry out this section may be used to pay the cost of repairing damage caused, or any infrastructure to mitigate a risk posed, to a defense access road by recurrent or projected recurrent flooding, sea level fluctuation, a natural disaster, or any other current or projected change in applicable environmental conditions, if the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) determines that continued access to a military installation, defense industry site, air or sea port necessary for or planned to be used for the deployment or sustainment of members of the Armed Forces, equipment, or supplies, or to a source of raw materials, has been or is projected to be impacted by those events or conditions.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–767, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 908; Pub. L. 86–657, § 8(d), July 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 524; Pub. L. 87–61, title I, § 105, June 29, 1961, 75 Stat. 123; Pub. L. 97–424, title I, § 155, Jan. 6, 1983, 96 Stat. 2134; Pub. L. 100–17, title I, § 133(b)(15), Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 172; Pub. L. 105–178, title I, § 1212(a)(2)(A)(i), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 193; Pub. L. 109–284, § 3(2), Sept. 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 1211; Pub. L. 110–417, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2814(a), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4728; Pub. L. 112–81, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2816(a), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1689; Pub. L. 112–141, div. A, title I, § 1516, July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 574; Pub. L. 115–232, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2865, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2285; Pub. L. 116–92, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2808, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1885.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2019—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 116–92, § 2808(1), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “The Secretary is authorized, out of the funds appropriated for defense access roads, to provide for the construction and maintenance of defense access roads (including bridges, tubes, and tunnels thereon) to military reservations, to defense industries and defense industry sites, and to the sources of raw materials when such roads are certified to the Secretary as important to the national defense by the Secretary of Defense or such other official as the President may designate, and for replacing existing highways and highway connections that are shut off from the general public use by necessary closures, closures due to mean sea level fluctuation and flooding, or restrictions at military reservations and defense industry sites.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–92, § 2808(2), substituted “construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of, or enhancements to,” for “the construction and maintenance of”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–92, § 2808(3), substituted “certified to the Secretary” for “certified to him”, “activities for construction, maintenance, reconstruction, enhancement, improvement, and repair” for “construction, maintenance, and repair work”, “in those areas” for “therein”, and “condition for—” and pars. (1) and (2) for “condition for such training purposes and for repairing the damage caused to such highways by the operations of men and equipment in such training.”

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 116–92, § 2808(4), substituted “the Secretary may advance” for “he may advance”, “construction and other activities” for “construction which has been”, and “upon demand by the Secretary” for “upon his demand”.

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 116–92, § 2808(5), added subsec. (i) and struck out former subsec. (i) which read as follows: “Beginning in fiscal year 2019, funds appropriated for the purposes of this section shall be available to pay the cost of repairing damage caused to, and for any infrastructure to mitigate the risks posed to, highways by recurrent flooding and sea level fluctuation, if the Secretary of Defense shall determine that continued access to a military installation has been impacted by past flooding and mean sea level fluctuation.”

2018—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–232, § 2865(a), substituted “closures, closures due to mean sea level fluctuation and flooding, or restrictions” for “closures or restrictions”.

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 115–232, § 2865(b), added subsec. (i).

2012—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 112–141 inserted “, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation,” before “shall determine”.

2011—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 112–81 inserted at end “The Secretary of Defense shall determine the magnitude of the required improvements without regard to the extent to which traffic generated by the reservation is greater than other traffic in the vicinity of the reservation.”

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–417 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

2006—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–284 substituted “sections 3114 to 3116 and 3118 of title 40” for “the Act of February 26, 1931; 46 Stat. 1421”.

1998—Subsecs. (e), (g), (h). Pub. L. 105–178 substituted “State transportation department” for “State highway department” wherever appearing.

1987—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 100–17 substituted “Transportation” for “Commerce”.

1983—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–424 substituted “Funds appropriated for defense maneuvers and exercises” for “Not exceeding $5,000,000 of any funds appropriated under the Act approved October 16, 1951 (65 Stat. 422)”.

1961—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 87–61 added subsec. (h).

1960—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 86–657 added subsec. (g).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.

### Economic Adjustment Committee Consideration of Additional Defense Access Roads Funding Sources

Pub. L. 112–81, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2816(b), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1689, provided that: Convening of committee.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 31, 2011], the Secretary of Defense, as the chairperson of the Economic Adjustment Committee established in Executive Order No. 127887 [12788] (10 U.S.C. 2391 note), shall convene the Economic Adjustment Committee to consider additional sources of funding for the defense access roads program under section 210 of title 23, United States Code. Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the Economic Adjustment Committee deliberations and containing an implementation plan to expand funding sources for the mitigation of significant transportation impacts to access to military reservations pursuant to subsection (b) of section 210 of title 23, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a).”

### Separate Budget Request for Program

Pub. L. 112–81, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2816(c), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1689, provided that: “Amounts requested for a fiscal year for the defense access roads program under section 210 of title 23, United States Code, shall be set forth as a separate budget request in the budget transmitted by the President to Congress for that fiscal year under section 1105 of title 31, United States.”