No person shall open or excavate the bed of any street or highway of any city, town or village in this State for the purpose of laying or placing pipes, wires or other conductors therein without first obtaining the consent of the duly constituted authorities of such city, town or village. Nothing in this section shall require such consent before opening or excavating the bed of any such street or highway for the purpose of repairing any pipes, wires or other conductors theretofore lawfully laid or placed in such street or highway.