News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
T-DOT approved the building of two new gateway monuments for the city of Sparta.
Sparta Mayor Jeff Young said gateway monuments are basically welcome signs for cities. Young and City Administrator Brad Hennessee met with T-DOT to appeal the originally rejected proposal last week. The city received approval two days later.
“We want it to boost our economy,” Young said. “We want people when they are traveling to be able to stop and see what’s going on. Maybe, they would want to buy a house, live here and start a business here. If nothing else, at least stop and buy some food on the way through.”
Young said the signs will be 15 feet high and constructed out of brick and stone with landscaping, laser cut letters and lighting. A sign will be placed on the north and south entrances of the city on Highway 111. Young said the city Industrial Development fund will pay for the project. Right now, Sparta only has city limit signs.
Hennessee said this is a big accomplishment for the city. The project is in the early stages at this point, but he hopes construction is complete later this year. The city must complete a checklist provided by T-DOT before entering the permitting stage.
Young said Senator Paul Bailey and State Representative Paul Sherrell played an instrumental part of getting approval for the project. Both were present for the meeting with TDOT.
Hennessee said the main issue for approval was wanting to face the signs toward main line traffic entering the city. TDOT’s guidelines originally said the sign must face exiting traffic, but T-DOT recently changed the rule allowing approval for the project.
T-DOT guidelines say a Gateway Monument is defined as any freestanding structure or sign, non-integral or non required highway feature that will communicate the name of a city or county.
