Section 179. Within what time road to be built

In case any street surface
  railroad corporation shall not commence the construction of its road, or
  of any extension or branch thereof, within one year after the consent of
  the local authorities and property owners or the  determination  of  the
  appellate  division  of the supreme court as herein required, shall have
  been given or renewed, and shall not  complete  the  same  within  three
  years after such consents or determination shall have been obtained, its
  rights,  privileges  and  franchises  in  respect  of  such  railroad or
  extension or branch, as the case  may  be,  may  be  forfeited.  If  the
  performance of any act required by this chapter or any prior acts within
  the times therein prescribed, is hindered, delayed or prevented by legal
  proceedings  in any court, such court may also extend such time for such
  period as the court shall deem proper or if the performance of  any  act
  required  by  said  statutes  within  the  times  therein  prescribed is
  hindered, delayed or prevented by works of public improvement,  or  from
  any  other or different cause, not within the control of the corporation
  upon which such requirement is imposed, the time for the performance  of
  such  act  is  hereby  and shall be deemed to be extended for the period
  covered by such hindrance, delay or prevention. The time for  compliance
  with  any  requirement  in  this  or any former act, by a street surface
  railroad corporation incorporated for  the  purpose  of  constructing  a
  street  surface  railroad  and  which  has  prior to March twenty-fifth,
  nineteen hundred and two, obtained or shall  prior  to  June  thirtieth,
  nineteen  hundred  and  three,  obtain such consents or determination is
  hereby extended until June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and four.