N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40:14B-52

In order to carry out and effectuate its purposes, every municipal authority is hereby authorized to construct, maintain and operate its utility system along, over, under and in any streets, alleys, highways and other public places within or without the district, doing no unnecessary injury thereto and making no unnecessary interruption in or interference with the public use of such places and restoring the same to their former usefulness and condition within a reasonable time.