N.Y. Highway Law § 131-d: Construction by county of destroyed bridges

§ 131-d. Construction by county of destroyed bridges. If any bridge

within a county, or intersected by any boundary line of a county, shall

be destroyed by the elements, and the board of supervisors of the county

shall deem that the expenses of the construction of a new bridge at or

near the site of the bridge so destroyed would be too burdensome upon

the town or towns within such county, which would otherwise be liable

therefor, the board of supervisors of any such county may provide for

the construction and completion of a bridge and all necessary approaches

thereto, at or near the site of the bridge so destroyed. If the bridge

so destroyed shall have been constructed by a corporation created under

a general law, and the site thereof, and the approaches thereto, or

either, shall be the property of such corporation, such board of

supervisors may purchase the interest of such corporation, or any other

person, in such site or approaches, if such purchase can be accomplished

upon reasonable terms; but if such site or approaches can not be

lawfully acquired by such purchase, or otherwise, upon reasonable terms,

such board may acquire title to premises on either side of such site,

and provide for the construction of a bridge and approaches thereto, at

such place, at the expense of the county or of the two counties jointly,

as the came may be, provided such bridge shall be so located as not to

increase the distance to be traveled upon the highway to reach each end

of such bridge more than five rods. Any board of supervisors providing

for the construction of any such bridge may determine by resolution

whether the expenses of the maintenance and repair thereof shall

thereafter be a county charge, or a charge upon such town or towns.