1372                        LAWS OF MARYLAND.                  [CH. 539

level and it shall appear to the State Roads Commission that
such crossing is dangerous to public safety or that the public
travel on such way is impeded thereby, the State Roads Com-
mission may alter such crossings by substituting therefor a
crossing not at the grade of such public highway, either by
carrying such public highway under or over such railroad, or by
reconstructing such railroad under or over such public high-
way, or by vacating, relocating or changing the lines, width,
direction or location of such highway and the opening of a new
highway in the place of the one ordered vacated, provided,
however, that whenever the Commission deems it advisable,
the Commission may order the company or companies opera-
ting such railroad to make such alterations, changes, reloca-
tion and/or opening, within such time as the Commission may
fix, and according to plans to be approved by the Commission.

14.     Whenever a state highway crosses under or over
any railroad or railway referred to in the preceding sec-
tions, by an underpass or overhead bridge which was con-
structed prior to the year 1927 and such underpass or
bridge carrying said highway under or over said rail-
way shall, in the judgment of the State Roads Commis-

sion, become inadequate or unsafe to carry the traffic
on said highway, then the said Commission may alter,
reconstruct or relocate said existing underpass or overhead
bridge in such a manner as said Commission may deem neces-
sary and proper for the purpose of carrying said highway
under or over said railroad; and in that event the provisions
of Sections 13 to 24, inclusive, of this Article shall be and
become applicable to such reconstruction or relocation to the
same extent as when said state highway and said railroad
crossed each other at grade, as defined in the preceding section.
The provision of Sections 12 to 24, inclusive, of this Article
shall not be applicable to any city street or suburban electric
railway companies or to any extensions thereof.

15.      One-half of the expense of such alterations, changes,
relocation and/or opening, including damage to adjacent prop-
erty, shall be paid by such railroad and one-half by the State
Roads Commission. When two or more railroads use such
crossings, each shall bear its proper proportion of the railroad's
share of the expense, such proportion to be determined by the
State Roads Commission.