AASHTO Journal - Connecticut Installs New Welcome Signs Along Highways

The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Governor Ned Lamont (D) recently celebrated the installation of new “Welcome to Connecticut” signs at seven key highway crossing points along the state’s border.

[Above photo by CTDOT]

Those seven new interstate highway signs were designed and installed following all federal regulations and guidelines for interstate signage, ensuring both safety and visibility, noted CTDOT, which handled the sign design and installation process with input from the Connecticut Office of Tourism to ensure the messaging aligns with state’s broader marketing and communications efforts.

Each sign each showcases a “unique aspect” of Connecticut’s identity and are located on I-95 and I-84 entering from New York; on I-91, I-84, and I-395 entering from Massachusetts; and on I-95 and U.S. Route 6 entering from Rhode Island.

“These new signs are not just markers on our highways, they are a reflection of what makes Connecticut special,” the governor said in a statement.

“We want everyone entering our state to immediately feel proud of what we do well here, whether it’s making the nation’s best pizza, world class meals, national championships, or the most complex machines in the world,” he added. “Each sign is an invitation to experience all that we have to offer as one of the best states to live, work, and play.”

[Editor’s note: The Wyoming Department of Transportation recently released a video that provides a “behind-the-scenes” look at the team and the work that goes into caring for 80,000-plus roadway signs.]

“These new signs reflect our state’s pride, our commitment to excellence, and our dedication to making a great first impression,” CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “Each sign is crafted to enhance travel for residents and visitors.”

“At its core, Connecticut’s rebranding is about showing the world what we do and why we do it,” noted Anthony M. Anthony, the state’s chief marketing officer.

“The makers and creators here are the engine behind our efforts,” he explained. “These new signs are a visible reminder of their work and that Connecticut is a place where anyone can make their life, family, career, business, and fun. We’re proud to welcome everyone who enters our state with these powerful messages.”

In 2023, Connecticut launched a “Make It Here” campaign designed to create a firm Connecticut identity, increase state pride, and strengthen perceptions of the Nutmeg State. Anthony pointed out that, in 2023, Connecticut experienced a record year for the travel industry with nearly 68 million visitors and $18.5 billion economic impact, according to Tourism Economics.

Other state departments of transportation have also been tasked with similar highway sign replacement projects in recent years.

For example, in 2023, the Ohio Department of Transportation manufactured and installed 36 highway signs bearing the state’s new slogan, “Ohio, The Heart of it All.”

Some of those new welcome signs were installed by Ohio DOT crews, while contractors installed the others, with the largest signs – measuring more than 40 feet in width – hung on the arch that spans I-70 at the Indiana border in Preble County.