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New signs on interstates are harder to miss
DOT rolling out new signs along I-985, I-85
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Signs such as these along Interstate 985 will be replaced by the Georgia Department of Transportation as part of a federal program requiring all states to switch to a new type of sign that is more reflective. - photo by Tom Reed

As part of a nearly $5 million overhaul, new traffic signs are on the way for Interstate 985, Interstate 85 and Ga. 365 in Hall and surrounding counties.

The Georgia Department of Transportation contracted the I-985 work in February to Sheets Construction Co. in Locust Grove.

The project, costing $2.1 million, will take place at various locations in Hall and Gwinnett counties. It is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 31, according to the DOT.

A similar project is planned for Ga. 365 in Habersham. That project, costing nearly $400,000, has the same completion date. Midasco of Elkridge, Md., has been contracted for that work.

Sign installation work costing nearly $2.3 million and with an Oct. 31 completion also is planned along Interstate 85 in Banks, Barrow, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hart and Jackson counties, a DOT document shows.

Sheets Construction also has been contracted for that project.

The state is changing the signs based on new federal guidelines “requiring a new type (of sign) that is easier to see in low light conditions,” said Teri Pope, spokeswoman for the DOT’s Gainesville office.

“This is a new national standard, (and the DOT) is implementing these new signs slowly over the next several years.”

Basically, “a new product has become available for signage that improves visibility and so that has become the standard,” Pope said.

DOT spokesman David Spear said to complete the work the state may end up spending $40 million to $50 million on interstates and another $50 million on federal and state routes.

“But the new federal standards for reflectivity aren’t a mandate to have them all done immediately or even by a certain deadline — just to begin the process of assessing, monitoring and improving sign reflectivity,” Spear said.

“We can make the determination as to (whether) signs need replacing or just repainting and, if so, when that should occur.”

States, which receive federal money based on a funding formula, are paying for the initiative.

“This is one of those ... unfunded mandates,” Pope said. “It comes out of our general construction budget to implement these changes. It’s our normal 80 percent federal gas tax, 20 percent state gas tax.”