Section 1. There is hereby created a body politic and corporate to be known as the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority which, while within the executive office of transportation and construction, shall not be subject to the supervision and regulation of said executive office or any other department, commission, board, bureau or agency except as specifically provided in any general or special law to the contrary. The authority is hereby authorized and empowered, subject to the provisions of this chapter, to own, construct, maintain, repair, reconstruct, improve, rehabilitate, finance, refinance, use, police, administer, control and operate (a) the turnpike as defined herein; and (b) the metropolitan highway system as defined herein.

The authority is hereby constituted a public instrumentality. The exercise by the authority of the powers conferred by this chapter shall be deemed and held to be the performance of an essential governmental function.

Last modified: March 27, 2006