Section 1. Except as otherwise provided in section two, every city and town shall erect and maintain on the ways therein, except state highways and ways under the control of the metropolitan district commission, at such places as are convenient for the direction of travelers and at forks or intersections of ways which lead to adjoining cities or towns, direction signs, upon which shall be stated the name of the city, town or place to which each such way leads, and the distance to the same.