Any railroad corporation chartered by or authorized to exercise its franchises within this state, which, on March fourteenth, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine, owned or possessed, as lessees or otherwise, lots or parcels of lands lying opposite to each other, across, and each fronting upon any street or public highway, may construct its tracks across such street or highway and use the same for all purposes of transportation; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to enable such corporation to interfere with or to change the grade of such street or highway, or to prevent or unnecessarily impede the use thereof for ordinary travel.