Whenever an existing bikeway, pedestrian way, or roadway used by bicycles or pedestrians or the sole access to such is destroyed by any new, reconstructed, or relocated federal, state, or local highway, the road authority responsible shall replace the destroyed facility or access with a comparable facility or access. Replacement is not required where it would be contrary to public safety or when sparsity of population, other available ways or other factors indicate an absence of need for such facility or access.