Section 17. Public hearings

To give the public an opportunity to become
  fully acquainted with proposed highway projects and to express its views
  on the social,  economic  and  environmental  effects  of  the  proposed
  facilities,  the  commissioner of transportation, as he deems necessary,
  shall hold a public hearing or hearings, or offer  the  opportunity  for
  such  hearing  or  hearings  in  order  to  consider the various highway
  locations or corridors and designs deemed feasible by  the  commissioner
  of  transportation  for  the  construction  or  reconstruction  at a new
  location of any highway heretofore or hereafter authorized  pursuant  to
  the  provisions  of this chapter or any other general or special law, or
  extensions of such highways, notwithstanding the fact that a  particular
  highway location or corridor may be specified by law. Provided, however,
  that  nothing herein shall be construed to authorize construction of any
  highway  in  a  location  or  corridor  different  from  that  which  is
  authorized  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this chapter or any other
  general or special law, or to require construction of any highway  in  a
  location  or  corridor  so authorized if, after such hearing or hearings
  and based on all the evidence available to him, the  commissioner  finds
  such  location  or  corridor  not  feasible.  Prior  to  such hearing or
  hearings, the commissioner of transportation  shall  consider  and  make
  available  to  the  public the various locations or corridors and design
  alternates which he deems feasible.