The board of chosen freeholders may widen any existing road originally constructed or improved under this article, and the commissioner may contribute the state‘s money toward such widening in the same proportion as in cases of construction or improvement of roads under the provisions of this article. The same procedure required by this article for the original construction or improvement of roads shall be followed in the widening thereof.

The term “widen” as used in this section means reconstruction of the road of a greater width in order to accommodate the public travel over the existing right of way or right of way to be first obtained by the board of chosen freeholders.