Division authorized to acquire roads and bridges.

(1) The Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration is authorized and empowered, upon the application of any county or counties evidenced by resolution of the board or boards of county commissioners thereof, to acquire by purchase, gift, or eminent domain and/or to construct within such county or counties so making application therefor, any road or bridge, including the acquisition of necessary rights-of-way therefor, connecting state highways within such county or counties; provided, however, in the event the said division shall determine, agree, or contract to build or construct any road or bridge under the provisions hereof then it shall so advise the Department of Transportation of such determination, agreement, or contract and shall give the Department of Transportation complete copies of all documents, agreements, resolutions, contracts, and instruments relating to such matter and shall request the Department of Transportation to do such construction work including the acquisition of necessary rights-of-way, planning, surveying, and actual construction of such project and shall also transfer to the credit of the Department of Transportation in the Treasury of the state the funds hereinafter provided for such projects and the Department of Transportation shall thereupon be authorized, empowered, and directed to proceed with such construction, including the acquisition of necessary rights-of-way, and to use the said funds for such work, and no other work, in the same manner that it is now authorized to use the funds otherwise provided by law for its use in construction of roads and bridges.

(2) The authority herein and hereby conferred to acquire rights-of-way shall be construed to extend to and include the acquisition of new rights-of-way separately to be used in the future for the construction of new roads and new bridges and for the acquisition of rights-of-way to be used in the future for widening or four-laning or extending, or otherwise improving, existing state roads and bridges. Provided, however, that no rights-of-way shall be acquired hereunder except for use in the construction of roads and bridges that have been prior to such acquisition legally designated as state roads and bridges, and provided further, that if any provision or any part of any provision of this amended section shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this amended section. The acquisition of rights-of-way as provided above separately and in advance of the construction of improvements on such rights-of-way, shall be and constitute a separate project or purpose under the provisions of this chapter or under the provisions of any other law or laws, and the Division of Bond Finance shall be fully authorized to issue its bonds, notes or certificates in the manner provided in this chapter to finance the cost of the acquisition of such rights-of-way separately and in advance of the construction of improvements on such rights-of-way.