The board of chosen freeholders of any county may by resolution direct that a public road or section thereof, located within the county, being at least thirty-three feet in width and at least one mile in length, or, being less than one mile in length but an extension of or connection with some permanently improved or paved road or street, be constructed or improved in such manner that it will, with reasonable repairs, be firm, smooth and convenient for travel at all seasons of the year.

When more roads are applied for than can be constructed in any one year, the board of chosen freeholders and the commissioner may select from the roads petitioned for the ones first to be constructed, having first regard to the most important roads and the distribution of the benefits of this article to all parts of the county.

The board of chosen freeholders may, before approving any road, require as a condition of its approval that the municipalities through which the road runs shall pay ten per cent of the cost of the improvement to be applied to the county’s share of the cost of the improvement of the roads constructed under this article.

“Public road” as used in this section includes any road that may have been laid out, dedicated, or the right of way acquired, so that it may be built, notwithstanding it never has been built or used by the public, or any bridges or culverts erected thereon.