When the franchise of an incorporated plank road company has expired or may expire, the board of chosen freeholders of the county in which any bridge owned or claimed to be owned by such company or any part of such bridge may be, shall acquire it by purchase or condemnation, in case there be any ownership therein by such company, and take possession of such bridge or so much thereof as may be within the limits of the county, and maintain and operate it for public use.

Each municipality in or through which the plank road or any part thereof runs, shall maintain the portion lying within such municipality, and acquire by purchase or condemnation any right therein remaining in the company, but if the portion of the plank road which runs in or through a municipality is not connected with any other road or highway of the municipality the duty of maintaining and acquiring such portion shall be upon the board of chosen freeholders of the county in which such portion lies.