Where roads have heretofore been laid out by said supervisors or commissioners, but not opened, and neither releases obtained nor damages assessed, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the proper township upon the request, in writing, of any one interested, to notify the supervisors or commissioners and auditors of the township of said request, and it shall, therefore, be the duty of said supervisors and auditors, or commissioners and auditors, as the case may be, as soon as practicable, to endeavor to obtain releases or assess damages as is provided in section one of this act¹ and file the same with said clerk, and upon their being so filed, they shall have the same effect, as if filed with the report laying out the road: Provided, That this act shall not be so construed as to repeal any local or special law.