(a) General rule.--

(1) The borough may enter into a contract with the county commissioners, railroads, street railways and other companies or interested parties for the building and maintenance of bridges or viaducts and for the payment of any damages caused by the location or erection thereof.

(2) The contracts may stipulate that the county, borough, railroad company, street railway or other company or interested party shall pay a certain part of the contract price of the work, including damages, or may stipulate that each shall construct a certain portion of the work and may provide otherwise for the payment of damages.

(b) Payment.--

(1) When any railroad company, street railway or other company or interested party agrees to pay a certain portion of the cost of the work, it shall pay the portion into the borough treasury. The borough treasurer shall pay the amount over to the contractor, as may be provided in the contract. The amount to be paid by the county shall be paid directly to the contractor.

(2) The agreement may provide for the maintenance of the bridges and viaducts after their erection. Nothing under this section shall authorize any borough to contract with a county for the maintenance of any bridge or viaduct which does not cross a place over which the county is authorized to build bridges. The bridge or viaduct shall be maintained as a borough structure, and the borough may contract with any party interested, except the county, for the maintenance of the bridge or viaduct.

(3) Nothing in this section shall affect the powers or duties of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to the extent otherwise provided by law.