The notice required by section 27:7-26 of this title shall be served upon the owner, tenant or public utility prior to the advertisement for the construction or reconstruction. If personal service upon the owner or tenant cannot be obtained, notice may be given by attaching a copy thereof to the premises, and in the case of a public utility, by service of a copy thereof upon an officer or employee of the public utility, and further by posting signs at both ends of the proposed construction or reconstruction in the following manner: Notice is hereby given that the state highway commissioner will on or about begin improvement with a permanent surface that portion of state highway route section from to .