When any town neglects to construct or repair a bridge across a river in a highway in such town, or when it is necessary to construct or repair any such bridge between towns or judicial districts and the towns liable therefor neglect, or do not agree, to construct or repair it, the superior court of the judicial district in which either town is situated, on complaint of any person, and legal notice given to the town liable for such construction or repairs, shall inquire by itself or committee into the public necessity and convenience thereof; and, if no sufficient reason is shown to the contrary, and such town or towns do not undertake to construct or repair such bridge within such time as the court directs, it may appoint some suitable person to do the same; and the expense thereof, being allowed by said court, shall be paid by such town or towns. Said court or such committee may estimate the damages, if any, sustained by any person or corporation by the construction of such bridge, due notice having been given to such person or corporation to appear and be heard, and, upon return of the report of any such committee into court, the same proceedings may be had in regard to such report and damages as are provided in sections 13a-52 to 13a-72, inclusive, for persons interested in laying out or altering a highway, in regard to remonstrance and reassessment of damages.