Lexington's new $211,588.03 welcome sign nears completion

Lexington's new $211,588.03 welcome sign on Athens BoonesboroPhoto byThe Lexington Times

LEXINGTON, KY--Construction on Lexington's new $211,588.03 welcome sign is almost complete. The sign is located on Athens Boonesboro Road near the site of Lexington Sporting Club's planned soccer stadium.

In August, the Urban County Council unanimously approved the construction contract with Tekton Construction LLC to build the sign. In a move that is typically reserved for high-priority projects, Council opted to bypass standard procedural rules to expedite the creation of the welcome sign.

According to the Corridors Commission’s August 17 meeting minutes, a pair of construction firms expressed interest in the Request for Proposal (RFP) tied to the project. The base bid outlined features such as a 5-foot grade dry stone wall and a planting bed.

The cost of the sign's quarried limestone slab stone is not included in the total cost of the project. That important component was donated by Vulcan Materials.

The meeting minutes say the Corridors Commission sought swift council approval to wrap up construction ahead of the winter season, although landscaping could be postponed until spring.

Construction plans for the Athens Boonesboro Road Welcome Sign.Photo byLFUCG

The new sign will be a short distance away from Lexington Sporting Club's planned soccer stadium. Council is set to vote on sizeable tax breaks and other incentives for the stadium project in the coming weeks.