10. a. If the development authority shall find it necessary in connection with the undertaking of any school facilities project to change the location of any portion of any public highway or road, it may contract with any government agency, or public or private corporation which may have jurisdiction over the public highway or road to cause the public highway or road to be constructed at such locations as the authority shall deem most favorable. The cost of the reconstruction and any damage incurred in changing the location of the highway shall be ascertained and paid by the development authority as part of the cost of the school facilities project. Any public highway affected by the construction of any school facilities project may be vacated or relocated by the development authority in the manner now provided by law for the vacation or relocation of public roads, and any damages awarded on account thereof shall be paid by the development authority as a part of the cost of the school facilities project. In all undertakings authorized by this subsection, the development authority shall consult and obtain the approval of the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation.

b. The development authority and its authorized agents and employees may enter upon any lands, waters, and premises for the purpose of making surveys, soundings, drillings, and examinations as it may deem necessary or convenient for the purposes of this act, all in accordance with due process of law, and this entry shall not be deemed a trespass nor shall an entry for this purpose be deemed an entry under any condemnation proceedings which may be then pending. The development authority shall make reimbursement for any actual damages resulting to the lands, waters and premises as a result of these activities.

c. The development authority shall have the power to make reasonable regulations for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation, and removal of tracks, pipes, mains, conduits, cables, wires, towers, poles, and other equipment and appliances, herein called “public utility facilities,” or any public utility as defined in R.S.48:2-13, in, on, along, over or under any school facilities project. Whenever the development authority shall determine that it is necessary that any public utility facilities which now are, or hereafter may be, located in, on, along, over, or under any school facilities project shall be relocated in the school facilities project, or should be removed from the school facilities project, the public utility owning or operating the facilities shall relocate or remove them in accordance with the order of the development authority. The cost and expenses of the relocation or removal, including the cost of installing the facilities in a new location or new locations, and the cost of any lands, or any rights or interests in lands, and any other rights, acquired to accomplish the relocation or removal, shall be ascertained and paid by the development authority as a part of the cost of the school facilities project. In case of any relocation or removal of facilities, the public utility owning or operating them, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate the facilities, with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or new locations, for as long a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right to maintain and operate the facilities in their former location or locations. In all undertakings authorized by this subsection the development authority shall consult and obtain the approval of the Board of Public Utilities.

L.2007, c.137, s.10.