27:23-6 Incidental powers.

6. The authority shall have power to construct grade separations at intersections of any highway project with public highways and to change and adjust the lines and grades of such highways so as to accommodate the same to the design of such grade separation. The cost of such grade separations and any damage incurred in changing and adjusting the lines and grades of such highways shall be ascertained and paid by the authority as a part of the cost of such highway project.

If the authority shall find it necessary to change the location of any portion of any public highway, it shall cause the same to be reconstructed at such location as the authority shall deem most favorable and of substantially the same type and in as good condition as the original highway. The cost of such reconstruction and any damage incurred in changing the location of any such highway shall be ascertained and paid by the authority as a part of the cost of such highway project.

Any public highway affected by the construction of any highway project may be vacated or relocated by the authority in the manner now provided by law for the vacation or relocation of public roads, and any damages awarded on account thereof shall be paid by the authority as a part of the cost of such project.

In addition to the foregoing powers the authority and its authorized agents and employees may enter upon any lands, waters and premises in the State for the purpose of making surveys, soundings, drillings and examinations as it may deem necessary or convenient for the purposes of this act, and such entry shall not be deemed an entry under any condemnation proceedings which may be then pending. The authority shall make reimbursement for any actual damages resulting to such lands, waters and premises as a result of such activities.

The authority shall also have power to make reasonable regulations for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation and removal of tracks, pipes, mains, conduits, cables, wires, towers, poles and other equipment and appliances (herein called "public utility facilities" ) of any public utility as defined in section 27:7-1 of the Revised Statutes, in, on, along, over or under any highway project. Whenever the authority shall determine that it is necessary that any such public utility facilities which now are, or hereafter may be, located in, on, along, over or under any highway project, shall be relocated in such highway project, or should be removed from such highway project, the public utility owning or operating such facilities shall relocate or remove the same in accordance with the order of the authority; provided, however, that the cost and expenses of such relocation or removal, including the cost of installing such facilities in a new location, or new locations, and the cost of any lands, or any rights or interests in lands, and any other rights, acquired to accomplish such relocation or removal, shall be ascertained and paid by the authority as a part of the cost of such highway project. In case of any such relocation or removal of facilities, as aforesaid, the public utility owning or operating the same, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate such facilities, with the necessary appurtenance, in the new location or new locations, for as long a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right to maintain and operate such facilities in their former location or locations.

In case of any such relocation or removal of facilities, as aforesaid, the authority shall own and maintain, repair and renew structures within the rights of way of railroad companies carrying highway projects or feeder roads over railroads, and the authority shall bear the cost of maintenance, repair and renewal of structures within the rights of way of railroad companies carrying railroads over highway projects or feeder roads, but this provision shall not relieve any railroad company from responsibility for damage caused to any authority or railroad structure by the operation of its railroad. Such approaches, curbing, sidewalk paving, guard rails on approaches and surface paving on turnpike projects or feeder roads as shall be within the rights of way of a railroad company or companies shall be owned and maintained, repaired and renewed by the authority; rails, pipes and lines shall be owned and maintained, repaired and renewed by the railroad company or companies.

L.1948,c.454,s.6; amended 1961, c.141; 2003,c.79,s.17.