a. If the authority shall find it necessary in connection with the undertaking of any of its projects 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 location 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 authority as a part of the cost of the project. Any public highway affected by the construction of any project may be vacated or relocated by the 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 authority as a part of the cost of the project. In all undertakings authorized by the subsection, the authority shall consult and obtain the approval of the Commissioner of Transportation.

b. In addition to the foregoing powers, the 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 authority shall make reimbursement for any actual damages resulting to the lands, waters and premises as a result of these activities.

c. The authority shall also have 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 project. Whenever the 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 project shall be relocated in the project, or should be removed from the project, the public utility owning or operating the facilities shall relocate or remove the same in accordance with the order of the 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 authority as a part of the cost of the project. In case of any relocation or removal of facilities, as aforesaid, the public utility owning or operating the same, 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 authority shall consult and obtain the approval of the Board of Public Utilities.

L.1981, c. 120, s. 12, eff. April 16, 1981.