Sec. 18. If the department finds it necessary to change the location of any portion of any public road, railroad or public utility facility, it shall cause the same to be reconstructed at such location as the division of government having jurisdiction over such road, highway, railroad or public utility facility shall deem most favorable and of substantially the same type and in as good condition as the original road, highway or railroad or public utility facility. The cost of such reconstruction, relocation or removal and any damage incurred in changing the location of any such road, highway, railroad or public utility facility, shall be ascertained and paid by the department as a part of the cost of such airport or airport facility. The department may petition the circuit court, superior court, or probate court of the county in which a public road or part of a public road is affected by the location of any airport or airport facility in the county, for the vacation or relocation of such road or any part of the road with the same force and effect as is now given by existing laws to the inhabitants of any municipality or governmental subdivision of the state. The proceedings upon such petition, whether it be for the appointment of appraisers or otherwise, shall be the same as provided by existing laws for similar proceedings upon such petitions. In addition to the foregoing powers, the department and its authorized agents and employees, after proper notice, may enter upon any lands, waters and premises in the state for the purpose of making surveys, soundings, drillings, and examinations as are necessary or proper for the purposes of this chapter; and such entry shall not be deemed a trespass, nor shall an entry for such purpose be deemed an entry under any condemnation proceedings which may be then pending; however, before entering upon the premises of any railroad, notice shall be given to the superintendent of such railroad involved at least five (5) days in advance of such entry. No survey, sounding, drilling and examination shall be made between the rails or so close to a railroad track as would render said track unusable. The department may make reimbursement for any actual damage resulting to such lands, waters and premises and to private property located in, on, along, over or under such lands, waters and premises, as a result of such activities. The State of Indiana, subject to the approval of the governor, consents to the use of lands owned by it, including lands lying under water and riparian rights, which are necessary or proper for the construction or operation of any airport or airport facility, provided adequate compensation is made for such use. The department may also make reasonable regulations for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation and removal of tracks, pipes, mains, conduits, cables, wires, towers, poles and other equipment and appliances (called "public utility facilities" in this section) of any public utility in, on, along, over or under any airport or airport facility. Whenever the department shall determine that it is necessary that any such public utility facilities located in, on, along, over or under any such airport or airport facility should be relocated, or should be removed from such airport or airport facility, the public utility owning or operating such facilities shall relocate or remove the same in accordance with the order of the department; however, the cost and expenses of such relocation or removal including the cost of installing such facilities in a new location or new locations and the cost of any lands, or any rights or interest in lands, and any other rights, acquired to accomplish such relocations or removal, shall be ascertained and paid by the department as a part of the cost of such airport or airport facility, excepting, however, cases in which such equipment or facilities are located within the limits of existing highways or public thoroughfares being constructed, reconstructed or improved under the provisions of this chapter. In case of any such relocation or removal of facilities, the public utility owning or operating the same, its successors or assigns, may maintain and operate such facilities, with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location or new locations, for as long a period, and upon the same terms and conditions, as it had the right to maintain and operate such facilities in their former location or locations subject, however, to the state's right of regulation under its police powers.
Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.105, SEC.2. As amended by Acts 1980, P.L.74, SEC.349; P.L.84-2016, SEC.54; P.L.136-2018, SEC.104.