Section 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.