In the event that the owner or owners of any such toll bridge refuse or neglect to accept the offer of the Secretary of Highways to purchase a toll bridge at and for the valuation made by him, or whenever an agreement cannot be reached on the purchase price, the Secretary of Highways may condemn such toll bridge. Condemnation shall be effective at the time the Secretary of Highways shall file in the office of the prothonotary of the court of common pleas of the county in which such bridge is located, or in the case of a toll bridge on the boundary line between two or more counties then in the prothonotary's office of any one of such counties, a certificate of condemnation, signed by him and approved by the Governor, describing the property taken. At the same time, the Secretary of Highways shall make application, by petition to the court of common pleas of the same county in which such certificate of condemnation is filed, for the appointment of viewers, whereupon said court or any law judge thereof shall appoint three discreet and disinterested freeholders to view such bridge and estimate the value thereof. None of said freeholders shall be a resident of the county wherein such application shall be made. The said court shall fix a time, not less than twenty nor more than thirty days thereafter, when said viewers shall meet upon the property and view the same. The said viewers shall cause at least ten days' personal notice of the time and place of such first meeting to be given to the Attorney General and to the owner or owners of such bridge, if resident within said county. If said owner is a corporation, such notice shall be given to the president, secretary or treasurer thereof, if such officer resides within said county. If neither said owner nor any of said officers reside within said county or cannot be found therein, notice of such first meeting shall be given as said court may direct.

Jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon the several courts of common pleas of this Commonwealth in counties where toll bridges are located, in whole or in part, for the purpose of filing condemnation certificates, as herein provided, and for determining any petition by the Secretary of Highways under the provisions of this act.