When the body from which the highway is taken over has rights or benefits by virtue of an understanding, agreement, award or contract with any public utility or other person, to repair, maintain or construct all or any part of the highway, or to deliver or execute any other source of obligation with respect thereto, the undertaking shall remain in force, and all such contractual or agreement rights, duties and benefits shall pass to and be taken over and assumed for the state by the commissioner.
All the terms, conditions and requirements of such agreements or contracts shall be fulfilled to the state by such public utility or person in the same manner as if they had been originally made between the state and such person.
N.J.S. § 27:7-7