The department is hereby authorized, empowered, directed, and required to maintain and repair, under its control and supervision, such designated municipal connecting link roads, to make appropriations and expenditures out of its funds for such program and is authorized to enter into any and all contracts, inclusive of agreements with cities and towns, and with any federal agency of the United States of America authorized to do so, for such purpose; provided, that nothing contained in this section shall require the department to sweep, sprinkle, or light said municipal link roads.