(a) Highway construction and maintenance by the department as authorized in this title shall include the authority to acquire strips of land along highways and to landscape and develop the strips and other lands within the highway right-of-way in order to restore, preserve, and enhance the scenic beauty along the highways. The department may construct and maintain on such land public rest and recreational areas or trails, roadside parks, sanitary and other facilities reasonably necessary to accommodate the traveling public.

(b) In order to provide information in the specific interest of the traveling public, the department is authorized to construct and maintain such information centers at the aforesaid recreational and rest areas as it may deem desirable. For the purpose of informing the public of places of interest within the State and providing such other information as may be considered desirable, these centers shall distribute maps, informational directories, and advertising pamphlets. Information centers shall be staffed by persons hired and paid by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

(c) The department is authorized to enter into agreements with the United States Secretary of Commerce as provided for in Title 23 of the United States Code, relating to the establishment and operation of information centers at rest and recreational areas, and to take action in the name of the State to comply with the terms of such agreements.