(a) The Department may purchase within this State and within the State of New Jersey, if permitted to do so by the laws of that State, solely from funds to be provided for the purposes of this chapter, such lands, sand, earth, gravel, stone, buildings, structures, rights-of-way, franchises, easements and other interest in lands, including lands under water and riparian rights of any person, railroad or municipality or political subdivision deemed by the Department to be necessary for the construction, maintenance or operation of the Bridge and all approaches (including approach highways which, in the judgment of the Department, it may be necessary to construct or cause to be constructed to provide suitable and adequate connection with existing improved highways) upon such terms and at such prices as may be considered by it to be reasonable and can be agreed upon between it and the owner thereof, and to take title thereto in the name of the State or, if such property so purchased be located in the State of New Jersey, to take title thereto in the name of the Department if permitted by the laws of the State of New Jersey to do so or, in the discretion of the Department, to take such title in the name of an individual or a corporation as trustee for the Department. Whenever a price cannot be agreed upon or whenever the owner is legally incapacitated or is absent or is unable to convey valid title or is unknown, the Department may acquire by condemnation any of the above mentioned properties located within the State so deemed by the Department to be necessary for the purposes of the Department.
(b) Whenever valid title to any of the above mentioned properties which are located in the State of New Jersey cannot be acquired by the Department in its own name or in that of its trustee or nominee by amicable agreement with the owner, and the Highway Commissioner of the State of New Jersey is willing to condemn for the use of and to become a part of the highway system of the State of New Jersey any such property deemed by the Department necessary for construction, maintaining or operating that portion of the Bridge within the State of New Jersey and the eastern terminus and the approaches thereto, if reimbursed by the Department for the condemnation money or damages awarded in such condemnation and expenses thereof, the Department may enter into an agreement of reimbursement with the Highway Commissioner of the State of New Jersey for such condemnation money or damages and expenses and to secure the same by a deposit of cash or otherwise and may reimburse from the funds to be supplied for the purpose of this chapter the Highway Commissioner of the State of New Jersey or the State of New Jersey or other proper department or agency thereof for all condemnation money or damages and costs legally awarded or incurred in such condemnation. When such property is so acquired by the Highway Commissioner of the State of New Jersey as a part of the highway system of that State, the Department is authorized to construct, maintain and operate thereon or thereunder from the funds to be supplied for the purpose of this chapter any necessary part of the Bridge or the eastern approach thereto as fully as though title thereto had been acquired by the Department.