(a) General rule.--Because of their outstanding scenic, historic, natural, recreational and archeological characteristics and qualities and because of opportunities for economic development and tourism and for conservation of the outstanding qualities, the following are designated as scenic byways:

(1) State Route 476, commonly known as the Blue Route.

(2) State Route 711 from the Conemaugh River to Jones Mills continuing along Routes 711/381 south to Normalville and along Route 381 to the State line of West Virginia, commonly referred to as the Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway.

(3) State Route 40 from the border of Pennsylvania and Maryland to the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, commonly referred to as the National Road.

(b) Effect of designation.--No outdoor advertising device, as defined in section 3 of the act of December 15, 1971 (P.L.596, No.160), known as the Outdoor Advertising Control Act of 1971, may be erected:

(1) within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way; or

(2) more than 660 feet from the nearest edge of the right-of-way, outside of urban areas, if the sign is visible from the main-traveled way of the scenic byway and the purpose of the sign is that its message be read from the main-traveled way of the scenic byway, except:

(i) the official signs and notices which are required or authorized by law and which conform to the national standards promulgated by the Secretary of Transportation of the United States pursuant to 23 U.S.C. § 131 (relating to control of outdoor advertising);

(ii) outdoor advertising devices advertising the sale or lease of the real property upon which they are located;

(iii) outdoor advertising devices advertising activities conducted on the property on which they are located, including devices which display a message that may be changed at reasonable intervals by electronic process or remote control; and

(iv) directional signs, including, but not limited to, signs pertaining to natural wonders, scenic and historical attractions and other points of interest to the traveling public which conform to the national standards promulgated by the Secretary of Transportation of the United States pursuant to 23 U.S.C. § 131.

(July 11, 1996, P.L.660, No.115, eff. 60 days)

1996 Amendment. Act 115 amended the section heading and subsec. (a), retroactive to January 1, 1996.