Wayfinding signs have arrived in Jefferson and will be installed soon by the city streets department.
The aluminum signs are large – 6 ft tall – and heavier than one person can easily move. They’ll be installed on large posts that resemble the light poles around the downtown square and on the N. Elm St overpass. The posts are break-away and set in precast 2’ X 5’ concrete caissons.
The signs were made by Prison Industries and meet all reflectivity and safety requirements.
Eighteen signs were ordered, four more than originally planned. The one pictured was intended to be placed at E. Lincoln Way and Chestnut St, but city staff has since decided it would require too much sidewalk work to install. There will be 17 wayfinding signs posted around the city.
The signs will feature directional information only for publicly-owned destinations, not privately-owned businesses. Greene County High School and Middle School are included; those signs will be re-done when the new high school opens and the middle school relocates two years from now.
Jefferson Matters: Main Street spearheaded planning for the project. The $10,000 plan was funded by a $5,000 Main Street Iowa Challenge grant matched by $5,000 from the city’s hotel/motel tax fund.
Cost for the posts and signs was $63,000, with another $8,500 for the concrete caissons.
The wayfinding signs are the first phase of the project. Welcome signs at all four entrances to the city and informational kiosks are also in the plan.
