(a) The agency may purchase, or lease, or take in the manner provided in chapter 5 of this title, as part of the highway, land adjacent to any route which is needed for the preservation of its scenic character, or for the purpose of providing picnic or camping grounds, or for parking areas for the use of travelers; provided that land taken for these purposes by condemnation proceedings shall not extend in width more than 250 feet from the center of the traveled portion of the highway (except limited access facilities).

(b) The agency shall, as a matter of policy, consider the establishment of wayside rest areas when constructing or reconstructing state highways, and when requested, town highways. The cost of building or rebuilding the wayside rest areas shall be included in the costs of constructing or reconstructing that highway. The cost of maintenance of these wayside rest areas shall be included in the cost of maintaining that highway.

(c) [Repealed.]  (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1989, No. 246 (Adj. Sess.), § 8; 1999, No. 18, § 18, eff. May 13, 1999; 2007, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 33.)