Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

That portion of the state highway routes 1A and 133 in the towns of Newbury, Rowley, Ipswich and Essex and the cities of Newburyport and Gloucester shall be designated and known as the Essex National Heritage Area Scenic Byway and are hereby designated as a scenic byway.

The Essex National Heritage Area Scenic Byway shall begin on state highway route 133 in the city of Gloucester at the intersection of state highway routes 127 and 133 and shall proceed generally northward along state highway route 133 through the town of Essex and into the town of Ipswich, where it shall merge with state highway route 1A and continue northward through the towns of Ipswich, Rowley and Newbury, terminating along High street and the downtown loop, in the city of Newburyport.

The general purpose of the scenic byway designation shall be to recognize the unique scenic, cultural and recreational resources along the byway. Specific purposes include the preservation of the rural scenic character of the corridor, improvement of highway safety features, expansion of economic opportunities of local business and development of a balanced tourism program. The department of highways shall erect and maintain suitable markers bearing the designation in compliance with the standards of said department.