Whenever the proposed improvement crosses the right-of-way of any railroad company, it shall be the duty of the board of water management commissioners, before adopting the plan of water management, to promptly notify such railroad company by serving written notice on any agent of such company or its lessee or receiver, such notice fixing the time of such meeting, which shall be not less than 10 days after the service of the same, that the board of water management commissioners will meet the company at the place where the proposed works of improvement will cross the right-of-way of such company for the purpose of conferring with said railroad company with relation to the place and the manner in which said improvement shall cross such right-of-way. It shall be the duty of the board of water management commissioners and the railroad company to agree, if possible, upon the place where and the manner and method in which such improvement shall cross such right-of-way. If the board of water management commissioners and the railroad company cannot agree or if the railroad company shall fail, neglect or refuse to confer with the board of water management commissioners, said board of water management commissioners shall determine the place and manner of crossing the right-of-way of said railroad company and shall specify the number and sizes of openings required and so specify in the plan of water management, and it shall further specify that it could not agree with the railroad company or that the latter failed, neglected or refused to confer with said board.