Farmington Hills One Step Closer to Welcoming ‘Gateway Signs’
If you’re driving to or from Farmington Hills, Michigan, next year, you might notice a couple of flashy new additions. The city officials have started talks about putting up what they’re calling ‘gateway elements’—massive, lit-up signs welcoming folks to the area, right by the entrances to Orchard Lake Road from Interstate 696.
These aren’t just any small town welcome signs – they’re set to be quite a spectacle. We’re talking large, internally lit signs with decorative arches sitting smack dab in the northeast and southwest parts of the cloverleaf road system created by the exits and entrances onto I-696 at Orchard Lake Road.
A city official described their vision for the sign aesthetics, saying, “Our goal is to create something that’s timeless, that’s an iconic image for the city.” These signs would be visible whether you’re coming from the east or the west, serving as inviting symbols to all who pass by.
So how is Farmington Hills bankrolling this project? They’ve set aside $1.2 million from their budget’s capital improvement fund for the year 2024-25. The total cost isn’t set in stone yet as the plans are still being worked out.
Preliminary designs suggest these signs won’t be the only eye-catching additions. We could potentially see decorative concrete walls and a backdrop of ornamental trees and evergreens, coupled with low-maintenance landscaping. But remember, the designs are still in the workshop phase; there might be other designs they want to explore before making any final decisions.
Once ready, these enhancements shouldn’t pop up overnight. Bidding is slated to open this fall for the project, with installation expected, tentatively of course, in the first half of 2025.
Now here’s the clever part. They’re timing the project to coincide with the Michigan Department of Transportation’s project on I-696 to save some dinero. This means all the site-clearing and traffic control measures from the DOT’s project could also benefit Farmington Hills’ gateway project, translating to some serious cost savings.
Of course, any work done on DOT property will need a permit, but once everything’s in place, these signs are set to show passersby what Farmington Hills is all about – a welcoming business hub and great place to live.
Watch this space!
