§ 40. Authority of commissioner of transportation with respect to the performance of contracts for construction, reconstruction or improvement of state highways, highway projects under the supervision of the department of transportation, bridges, grade crossing eliminations and stream channel improvements; completion of work by surety; cancellation of contract by commissioner of transportation.

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The performance of every contract for the construction, reconstruction or improvement of a state highway, bridge, grade crossing elimination or stream channel improvement shall be under the supervision and control of the commissioner of transportation, and it shall be his duty to see that every such contract is performed in accordance with the provisions of the contract and with the plans and specifications forming a part thereof. If the commissioner of transportation shall determine that the work upon any contract for the construction, improvement, maintenance, repair or reconstruction, of a state highway, other highway under the supervision of the department of transportation, bridge, grade crossing elimination or stream channel improvement, is not being performed according to the contract or for the best interest of the state, the execution of the work by the contractor may be temporarily suspended by the commissioner of transportation, who may then proceed with the work under his own direction in such manner as will accord with the contract specifications and be for the best interests of the state; or he may terminate the contractor's employment under the contract while it is in progress, and thereupon, proceed with the work, in affirmance of the contract, by contract negotiated or publicly let, by the use of his own forces, by calling upon the surety to complete the work in accordance with the plans and specifications or by a combination of any such methods; or he may cancel the contract and either readvertise and relet as provided in section thirty-eight of this chapter, or complete the work under his own direction in such manner as will accord with the contract specifications and be for the best interests of the state. Any excess in the cost of completing the contract beyond the price for which it was originally awarded shall be charged to and paid by the contractor failing to perform the work or his surety. Where the estimate for the completion of a cancelled contract or defaulted contract, or a contract being completed pursuant to the provisions of this section, is in excess of the balance of the amount originally set aside by the state to provide for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance or repair of such highway, or other construction project, together with any amount appropriated by the county, town or village for such improvement, the commissioner of transportation is authorized to set aside from any funds available for the construction or reconstruction of state highways, highway projects under the supervision of the department of transportation, bridges, grade crossing eliminations and stream channel improvements, an additional sum equal to such excess including the proportionate share of the county, town or village; and to pay such excess in the first instance, including the share of the county, town or village, pending recovery of excess cost from the defaulting contractor or his surety, as provided in this section. In the event that the state fails to recover from the defaulting contractor or surety the excess cost in completing the contract over the amount for which it was originally awarded, the county, town, or village shall pay to the state upon the demand of the commissioner of transportation the same proportion of such excess cost as was originally appropriated by the county, town or village, for the improvement, and the board of supervisors, town board or village trustees shall be subject to mandamus proceedings by the attorney general to enforce the payment of the share of the county, town or village of such excess cost. Every contract for the construction, improvement, maintenance, repair or reconstruction of a state highway, highway project under the supervision of the department of transportation, bridge, grade crossing elimination or stream channel improvement, shall reserve to the commissioner of transportation the right to suspend or cancel the contract as above provided, and to complete the work thereunder by contract negotiated or publicly let or by the use of his own forces, or affirm the contract and thereupon to complete the work thereunder according to any of the methods above provided as the commissioner of transportation may determine.