On I-40 near Wilmington, an iconic sign for California returns. Well, sort of.

Owen Hassell, Wilmington StarNews
Updated ·1 min read

It's been a while Barstow, California.

After several signs on Interstate 40 in New Hanover County indicating 2,554 miles to the road's end at the California city were stolen, another has emerged.

Recently, a sign was placed near the Murrayville Road overpass with "Barstow, Calif. 2,554" on it -- except now distances to far closer locales Benson and Raleigh are also included.

A sign recently went up on Interstate 40 next to the overpass for Murrayville Road that includes the distance to Barstow, California, the western end of I-40. Several signs with just the miles to Barstow were stolen through the years, the last in 2009.
A sign recently went up on Interstate 40 next to the overpass for Murrayville Road that includes the distance to Barstow, California, the western end of I-40. Several signs with just the miles to Barstow were stolen through the years, the last in 2009.

More: With 'incalculable' impacts, 5 roadway projects that drastically changed Wilmington

More: The impact of I-40 is 'exponential'

After the fourth sign to go up with only "Barstow, Calif. 2,554" on it was stolen, the N.C. Department of Transportation said it would not make another replacement.

At I-40's western end, a "Wilmington, NC 2,554" sign is in Barstow.

I-40 remains one of the longest in the interstate system. Only two are longer: I-80 from San Francisco to Teaneck, New Jersey at 2,899.59 miles and I-90 from Seattle to Boston at 3,020.44.

While the local sign indicates Barstow at 2,554 miles, the official distance for I-40 is 2,556.61 miles, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

The last I-40 extension was completed in June 1990, which connected Raleigh to Wilmington.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: On I-40 in Wilmington, NC, another Barstow, California sign appears