(1) Subject to the provisions of federal law, the department shall design and erect at relevant locations signs, clearly visible to traffic, identifying:
(a) each prominent mountain range that is visible to an occupant of a vehicle traveling on a highway in Montana that is part of the national highway system or primary highway system; and
(b) the junctions with highways that are part of the national highway system or primary highway system in Montana of scenic highways designated under authority of the commission or the department. The signs must mark where the scenic loop leaves and returns to the national highway system or primary highway system.
(2) (a) The department may not pay the cost of the manufacture and erection of the signs provided for in subsection (1)(b) out of funds appropriated to the department.
(b) Scenic loop highway signs are intended to provide tourist information, and the department's responsibility for the construction, maintenance, or traffic operation of the highway so signed is not affected by the signs.
(c) Erection of scenic loop highway signs does not create a scenic highway.