4. The provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding, and until further direction from the Legislature, the Department of Transportation shall have control and responsibility for the maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and replacement of any existing vehicle bridges over the Delaware and Raritan Canal carrying State, county, or municipal roads and any guardrails or barriers along the approaches to these vehicle bridges. The commissioner, in accordance with generally accepted engineering principles, standards or techniques, may, in order to protect the public safety, order the closing of public access, including roads, highways, sidewalk, tracks, paths or passageways, leading to, in, under or near any bridge described pursuant to this amendatory and supplementary act, the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding.

L.1991,c.344,s.4.