---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 20139"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "20139"
heading: "Maintenance-of-way operations on railroad bridges"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/20139"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Rail Programs"
  - "Part A — Safety"
  - "Chapter 201 — General"
  - "Subchapter II — Particular Aspects of Safety"
---

# §20139. Maintenance-of-way operations on railroad bridges


Not later than June 22, 1989, the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) of Transportation shall prescribe regulations and issue orders for the safety of maintenance-of-way [employees](/usc/49/21101.md?p=3) on [railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) bridges. The [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) at least shall provide in those regulations standards for bridge safety equipment, including nets, walkways, handrails, and safety lines, and requirements for the use of vessels when work is performed on bridges located over bodies of water.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 876.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 20139 | 45:431(n). | Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, 84 Stat. 971, § 202(n); added June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 19(a), 102 Stat. 637; Sept. 3, 1992, Pub. L. 102–365, § 2(2), 106 Stat. 972. |

The words “Not later than June 22, 1989” are substituted for “within one year after June 22, 1988” for clarity.