When a highway is made impassable, or the width reduced to prevent the free and safe passage, by a landslide or washout, or a bridge is swept away by a flood, the selectmen may change the location of the highway or the bridge and may discontinue any resulting unnecessary parts of the old highway. They may take, damage, or affect such land as may be necessary at the location of the slide, or washout, for the purpose of re-establishing, repairing, rebuilding, or protecting the highway or bridge, and may proceed immediately to build or rebuild the highway or bridge and open the highway or bridge for work and travel. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)