Where a town or private way, county road or highway shall be, or shall have been, laid out, widened or altered in such a manner that the public easement is located over land taken from the land on opposite sides of such road or way in unequal proportions, then the persons owning the land abutting the road or way on opposite sides thereof, shall each be deemed to own that portion of such road or way which shall have been acquired from their respective sides of such road or way. If it cannot be determined from which side of the road or way the land was so acquired, the owners of the abutting land on opposite sides of such road or way shall each be deemed to own to the centerline thereof. [PL 1973, c. 505 (NEW).]