N.Y. Canal Law § 65

§ 65. Private road in lieu of farm bridges. If the commissioner of\ntransportation cannot agree with the owner of a farm bridge spanning a\ncanal as to the amount of commutation in any case where he is of the\nopinion that the state should erect such bridge, and the commissioner of\ntransportation determines that a private road through adjoining lands\nwill sufficiently accommodate such owner, and that the same can be laid\nout with economy to the state, he may take the necessary action to lay\nout a private road for the accommodation of the owner, in the manner\nprescribed by law for laying out private roads and pay to the owner of\nthe lands through which the same is laid out, the damages assessed.\n