The Charleston Area Alliance is eager to see one of the busiest gateways into West Virginia’s Capital City with a welcome sign.
The Alliance took the lead on their “Gateway” signage project, helping secure funds, connecting community partners, and devising a plan to place welcome signs throughout Charleston.
“We want to let people know they have arrived,” said Susie Salisbury, Vice President of Community Development for the Alliance. “It’s about community pride. The Alliance wants to welcome all people coming into Charleston, whether they are just passing through, visiting the area, moving into town, or thinking of re-locating a business.”
Salisbury wrote several grants to bring in money to complete the project. Funds from the city’s Wayfinding Commission, Community Participation grants, and a Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation grant raised more than $100,000 for the project.
The first sign to go up will welcome travelers heading east on Interstate 64 near the Montrose Drive exit. The 25 feet wide, 12 feet high sign was designed by GIA Consultants and will be built just to the right of the east bound lanes. The sign is expected to be complete by June 19. Elkview-based, Blue Creek Masonry, is constructing the sign, which cost $65,000.
With a sandstone foundation, steel beam, and aluminum letters, the sign reflects the Kanawha Valley’s assets. “It’s public art, and there’s nothing like it around,” Salisbury said. “We want it to reflect our region,” she added.
The idea for welcome signs goes back eight years to Charleston City Council planning meetings when attendees identified a grave need for a welcoming sign. “The Alliance and several volunteers remained diligent and committed to the project after several potential locations for the sign did not work out,” Salisbury said.
City workers will install solar lighting once the sign is complete.
“The Alliance could not have accomplished this without the help of the City of Charleston, the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, the Federal Division of Highways, the West Virginia Division of Highways and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito,” said Matthew Ballard, President/CEO of the Charleston Area Alliance. “The Alliance recognizes both opportunities and challenges in the community and works to improve the region by executing on our plans.”
Another welcome sign is in the works. The second sign will be smaller and placed between Greenbrier Street and Lance Drive welcoming travelers from Yeager Airport.
Salisbury is excited and ready to give the community a worthy welcome sign.
