New way-finding signs coming to GB

Jul. 3—To help folks find their way around town, the Great Bend City Council Monday night gave its nod to the installation of new city way-finding signs. The bid went to Mark's Custom Signs of Great Bend for $44,950 for 15 markers.

"One of the city's Strategic Plan goals was to replace all the way-finding signs in town so that they look cohesive with our welcome signs and create inviting directional signage to the points of interest and city locations," said Christina Hayes, Convention and Visitors Bureau director and community coordinator. The CVB Advisory Board was instructed to make a plan and $50,000 was saved last year to pay for them.

The signs will be about five feet wide and be up to about 16 feet tall.

They will be located at locations all over town based on traffic counts provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation, Hayes said. Recommended sign locations include:

—East bound 24th Street (west of 24th and McKinley)

—West bound 10th Street (Mid-West Energy)

—455 West Barton County Road (Great Bend Expo Complex)

—Southeast bound K-96 (northwest of K-96 and 17th Street)

—West bound 10th Street (west of 10th and Frey)

—South bound Main Street (north of Main and 24th)

—East bound 24th Street (east of 24th and Adams Street)

—South bound McKinley Street (north of McKinley and Second)

—West bound 10th Street (east of 10th and Main)

—West bound 10th Street (west of 10th and Main)

—East bound 10th Street (west of 10th and Williams)

—West bound 10th Street (west of 10th and Odell)

—South bound Main Street (north of Main and 24th)

—West bound 24th Street (East of 24th and McKinley)

—South bound Main Street (north of Main and 19th)

—West bound 10th Street (east of 10th and McKinley)

Hayes said Mark's Custom Signs and city Public Works Director Jason Cauley will secure all the needed permissions and permits so the signs can be installed.

This signage plan still includes the other entrances to the town, she said. "Therefore we will continue to save to pay for signs that match at all the entrances."

Currently, there are entrance signs visible to those driving into Great Bend from the north an U.S. 281 and those coming into town from the west on U.S. 56.