Entryway signs on US-75 to be replaced in GO bond project
Work on the Gateway and Wayfinding Signage project is still underway, with current efforts focused on acquiring right-of-way easement from property owners on north and south U.S. Highway 75.
The project, recommended in the 2013 Community Strategic Plan and approved by voters in the 2018 General Obligation Bond Election, involves the construction of gateway signage into the city at major entryways and wayfinding signage for parks and recreational facilities as well as the downtown redevelopment district and downtown entryways.
The project got underway in 2021, when the City Council awarded a contract for the project to ACSM Inc. for the design, fabrication and installation of the signage. Since that time, several park and wayfinding signs have been installed at most of the City’s major parks and in the downtown area.
“Unfortunately, this project hasn’t moved as quickly as we had hoped, largely due to issues ACSM had securing adequate staffing,” said City Director of Engineering Micah Siemers. “Currently, City staff is working with property owners on the northern and southern city limits in an attempt to purchase easement for the gateway signs.”
Siemers said staff have received some complaints about the way the existing signage looks, and that the process is going as quickly as possible.
“We don’t disagree; those signs definitely need to be replaced,” he said. “Community Development Department staff is working with property owners in those areas to try to acquire the necessary property so the project can move forward — assuming, of course, that ACSM can be ready to move ahead with the sign installations.”
Siemers said ACSM personnel will be on-site a couple of different weeks later this month to continue pouring footings for vehicular wayfinding signs and then begin installation of the actual signs.
“We should know more about the estimated completion of the vehicular wayfinding sign portion of the project and the proposed schedule for the gateway signs at that time,” he said.