Section 670-521 - Restrictions and limitations upon powers and obligations of StateThe designation or taking over of any street of any city of the second A or third class as a State highway by any act of Assembly is not intended, and shall not be construed:
(1) To place upon the Commonwealth any duty to regulate traffic or police any such streets, but such duty shall be and remain the obligation of the cities;(2) To place upon the Commonwealth any obligation for the maintenance, construction, reconstruction or resurfacing of said streets other than the base or surface courses;(3) To place upon the Commonwealth, through the department, any obligation to maintain, construct or reconstruct any structure of any kind or character whatsoever situate upon or forming part of any such city street, or section thereof, except that the secretary may assume the obligation to maintain, construct, or reconstruct drainage structures with a total spanned length not exceeding ten (10) feet, measured along the center line of the street, other than storm or sanitary sewers, and which were the sole obligation of the city prior to the designation of the street as a State highway. Responsibility for the construction, reconstruction and maintenance of any other structure shall remain with the city, person, association, or corporation responsible therefor at the date of the approval of the act by which the street was designated as a State highway;(4) To authorize any assessment to be made against the Commonwealth by reason of or to assist in the elimination of any grade crossing on any street described and designated as a State highway, and no such assessment shall hereafter be made under any act of Assembly heretofore enacted;(5) To place upon the Commonwealth any obligation under any franchise or franchises heretofore or hereafter granted by the city to any public utility company, nor to transfer to the Commonwealth from the city any rights under any such franchise or franchises heretofore granted;(6) To place upon the department any authority to regulate traffic, parking, or the general use by the traveling public of the streets, or section thereof, taken over by the Commonwealth for maintenance or improvement under the provisions of this or any other act: Provided, however, That the department is hereby authorized to close to traffic all of the streets, or sections thereof, taken over as State highways, during such time as improvements are being made thereon, and, in such case, the city shall establish and maintain a suitable detour in accordance with the provisions of section five hundred twenty-six of this act. 1945, June 1, P.L. 1242, art. V, § 521; 1955, Oct. 7, P.L. 677, § 1.