WM ‘Welcome’ signs getting closer to (finally) becoming a reality

WM ‘Welcome’ signs getting closer to (finally) becoming a reality

long- planned signage will soon greet visitors along the Interstate

news@theeveningtimes.com

The footings have been marked, and with all regulatory approvals in hand, the West Memphis Advertising & Promotions Commission heard an optimistic “all systems go” report from Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jim Jackson at the April meeting.

“We’ve really picked up some steam,” said Jackson.

The signs will set atop the levees to greet inbound travelers on each interstate. The sign features the distinctive gateway logo with an upward sweeping light-bar spectrum form emanating to a peak of 20 feet from a true city blue lit base. The solar lit raised letter moniker will read “Welcome to West Memphis.”

The welcome signs have been a hope of the A& P commission for a generation. Finding a visible location under acceptable frustrated officials until recently. Changes in levee use policy by the Army Corps of Engineers and detail approval from the St. Francis Levee Board open the gateway for the new sign boards. Tuesday, Jackson presented commissioners with an updated footing drawing and indicated work is about to begin.

“Both locations are marked out,” said a beaming Jackson. “The concrete contractor is coming Monday. We are going to get the two signs put up.” The signs will sit right on top of the embankments. Previous plans placed the greetings on the slope near the top. Other levee users like farmers or cyclists will have to steer around the sign on the rock top road.

“They are literally setting directly on top of the levee,” said Jackson. “We don’t have to worry about any slides.”

Design work is complete on the signs and manufacturing the signboards themselves will soon be underway. The solar powered LED lighting will be produced by Sky Cop in Memphis.

By John Rech