Notwithstanding any provision of any statute to the contrary, the Commissioner of Transportation or his agent, with the approval of the Claims Commissioner, may enter upon private property with the consent of the owner to restore or to repair damage on said property caused by Department of Transportation operations, provided no expenditure exceeding five thousand dollars shall be made on any property. Said Claims Commissioner may grant his approval upon the basis of affidavits filed by the Commissioner of Transportation and the property owner, or may require such further written and oral evidence as he deems necessary.