Motorists along primary gateways heading into the city of Gainesville may notice a series of new signs under construction.
The city of Gainesville entered into an agreement for the new signage package about three years ago, according to city Communications/Tourism Director Catiel Felts.
Image Manufacturing Group of Norcross is building the signs and Sky Design of Atlanta designed them. Felts said the main ones people will notice at present are at exit 20 (Ga. 60/Queen City Parkway) off of Interstate 985, Ga. 53/Dawsonville Highway and Ga. 60/Thompson Bridge Road.
The process began with a committee of city employees meeting with a designer several years ago. Felts said the group wanted the signs to represent the mountains, lake and the city's involvement in the Vision 2030 public art program.
"Our sign includes masonry work, the stone to reflect the mountains, and then the public art piece that we incorporated is the tall piece on the side of 'Gainesville' that is a glass element with the different colors of the water and kind of the wavy look in it, and that is to signify the lake and the movement of the lake here in Gainesville," Felts said.
Two of the six signs are also planned at 985 exits 22 (U.S. 129/Athens Hwy.) and 24 (Jesse Jewell Parkway).
The sign effort has been a capital project in the city budget for three years, according to Felts. They're being paid for through the hotel/motel tax. Each primary gateway sign costs roughly $25,000. Felts said the exit 20 sign is slightly higher in cost because of its size.
In addition to the main corridors, Felts said the package will eventually includes kiosks and other signage for visitors, tourists and locals.
"The future will include wayfinding signage around Gainesville so you'll know basically how to get to the Gainesville square and how to get to some of the other local attractions."
Felts said the city is also working on electrical needs so the signs can be lighted at night.
"We hope that when people are driving down the interstate or entering Gainesville from one of the neighboring counties that they'll know they're in Gainesville and what a beautiful and wonderful community we have," Felts said.
