The county commissions of the several counties of the state are given the right of eminent domain for the purpose of establishing and changing public roads, bridges, and ferries in their respective counties, except in cases where the State Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over such highways. When an appeal is taken from any assessment in a condemnation proceeding brought by a county, such appeal shall not deprive the county obtaining the judgment of condemnation of a right of entry for any and all purposes named in the condemnation proceeding provided the amount of damages assessed shall have been paid into court in money and a bond shall have been given in not less than double the amount of damages assessed, with good and sufficient sureties, to be approved by the clerk of the court to which the appeal is taken, conditioned to pay such damages as the owner of the property may sustain. Said amount of damages may be paid into court and said bond in double the amount of such damages, with good and sufficient sureties, may be given at the time of taking the appeal or at any time thereafter that the applicant may desire the right of entry pending the appeal; provided, however, that in condemnation proceedings in which any county having a population of 400,000 inhabitants or more, according to the last or any subsequent federal census, is a party and where an appeal is taken, such county shall have the immediate right of entry pending said appeal as if a good and sufficient right of entry bond had been filed.