CORNISH, N.H. (AP) – Tourism in the upper Connecticut River Valley is expected to get a boost from the valley’s designation as a National Scenic Byway.

The Federal Highway Administration byway designation extends from Brattleboro, Vt., near the Massachusetts border, to Pittsburg, N.H., on the Canadian border.

Tourism officials from the two states and staff from the Connecticut River Joint Commissions met Friday at the Cornish-Windsor covered bridge, the longest two-lane covered bridge in the world, to celebrate the announcement, and both governors issued statements from their offices.

“Working in collaboration with Vermont to promote the cultural, historic and natural assets along the Connecticut River will increase economic vitality in both of our states,” New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch said.

“This is very exciting news and will be enormously important for both tourism and economic development in this region,” Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas said.

The states plan to develop a joint marketing plan with shared promotional materials, welcome centers on both sides of the river, linked Web site information and coordinated events.

The valley will be listed on a national map of scenic byways and will be eligible for federal transportation money to preserve and enhance its resources.

“People out there plan trips around national scenic byways”, said Rebecca Brown, a spokeswoman for the commissions. “Being listed is a way for people to find you.”