Detroit’s new freeway jumbo gateway sign is now all lit up

detroit gateway sign lit up at night

The new Detroit highway gateway sign illuminated at night. It's located on the eastbound side of I-94 between Central Street and Cecil Avenue.Photo by Montez Miller | City of Detroit

DETROIT - Some refer to it as the “Hollywood-style” Detroit sign. The city’s new freeway gateway sign can now be seen at night.

The sign, which is located along I-94 eastbound between Central Street and Cecil Avenue, went up last week. Each letter is 8-feet tall and all are perched atop 2-foot concrete blocks. DTE officially lit the sign last night. Meantime, finishing touches are being put on the landscaping around the letters.

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This gateway sign is one of six which will welcome upwards of 300,000 people who are expected to travel to the city from around the country for the NFL Draft happening from Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27 in downtown Detroit. The signs will be permanent.

The cost for all six combined was $425,434, to be exact. The price tag for the Detroit letters one was just under $270K. The other five signs will be smaller and look more like road signs. Fairmont Sign Company, which has been a Detroit-based, family owned and operated business in the city for 50 years, made the signs.

The five additional Welcome to Detroit signs will be placed at the following locations:

  • SB M-39 at 8 Mile Rd.
  • NB M-39 at Ford Rd.
  • SB I-75 at 8 Mile Rd.
  • EB I-96 at Telegraph
  • WB I-94 at Moross
Edward Pevos

Stories by Edward Pevos

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