N.J. Stat. § 27:19-27
The commission, its agents, officers, engineers or others in its employ, may enter at all times upon all lands or waters for the purpose of exploring, surveying, leveling and laying out the route or routes of any such bridge, with the proper approaches, and locating the same, and locate all necessary buildings, appurtenances and conveniences, doing no unnecessary injury to private or other property. When the commission shall have determined upon the construction or acquisition of any particular bridge or approach, the commission may proceed to condemn and take the land or waters, or rights therein, and structures, necessary therefor in accordance with chapter one of the Title Eminent Domain (section 20:1-1 et seq.), and, to that end, may invoke and exercise in the manner or mode of procedure prescribed in said chapter, either in its own name or in the name of any county which created such commission or consented to the acquisition or construction of such bridge or approach, all of the powers of such county to acquire property for public uses, and may also proceed to acquire, purchase, take and hold such voluntary grants of real estate, riparian rights, and other property, above or under water, as may be necessary for the construction, operation, maintenance and accommodation of its bridge or bridges and approaches thereto.
N.J.S. § 27:19-27