A billboard will soon greet motorists entering New Westminster via the Pattullo Bridge - but the city's entry sign is hitting the road.
Roger Emanuels, the city's manager of construction and design, said the entry sign was installed about two years ago. It is being removed to make way for a new digital billboard, but its new location has yet to be determined.
Emanuels said the entry sign's location was determined to be the best spot for the new digital billboard, as it would have the least impact on residents living in the area. Depending on the decision made about the alignment for a new Pattullo Bridge, the digital billboard may also have to move eventually.
"They know that going in," Emanuels said about Allvision. "They know there is a limited life."
A staff report states that the city's development services staff and the design panel don't support the idea of integrating the city's entry sign into the digital structure because it may cause unnecessary distraction, questionable esthetic challenges and duplication of the city's brand. (Renderings show that the 35-foot tall billboard will include "New Westminster" on its structure.)
Allvision will relocate the entry sign to another location that's selected by the city. As part of its agreement with the city, four sites with eight screens have been selected for billboards, which are intended to be in place in November.
Coun. Bill Harper said the city's greeting sign at that location is beautiful and he doesn't want to see it sitting in a warehouse.
Staff will report back to council on a timeline for relocating the sign, as well as suggestions for an alternate location in the city.
tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
