Those entering Lathrop from any direction will now be greeted by new signs that welcome visitors to the growing community.
This week city crews put the finishing touches on the installation of four signs — dual-post with a blue-background that welcome those entering the city and proudly show the city’s seal and incorporation date for those who are driving out.
The $6,975 project, which replaced the aging signs that had a habit of becoming an obstacle for vehicles — Lathrop Road, the city’s namesake thoroughfare, has been without a welcome sign since 2014 when a vehicle damaged beyond repair for a third time — was approved by the City Council in July of last year.
The money for the sings came from the city’s streets fund.
ARTSIGNWORKS, a company that Lathrop has previously worked with on sign-related projects, is now advertising the city’s seal on its website as an example of its work.
“We decided to add more of them citywide, and people love them — it gives us our identity and it’s a welcoming sign to visitors and shows that we welcome them,” Dhaliwal said. “I really like the ‘Welcome to Lathrop’ element and the logo, and I think it’s an easy step to beautiful the city.”
The signs are also a chance for the city to create continuity with its image by using its new logo — the same that appears on water tanks that aid in the city’s ability to meet peak water use demand.
Located in three strategic locations throughout the city, the water tanks – the most visible of which is located west of I-5 near the Mossdale housing tract – can be seen by motorists passing through the city along the state’s arterial interstate.
The new welcome signs will be located at Lathrop Road near the Chevron, Lathrop Road and McKinley Avenue, Louise Avenue near the am/pm service station, and Louise Avenue across from Target.
And Lathrop Road could soon be getting another element of beautification by the end of the month.
A guardrail system designed to create a buffer between students walking along Lathrop Road under the freeway has been approved by the council and could be put in place by the end of the month to coincide with the start of the Manteca Unified School District academic year.
The guard rail, which will be ornate and help give character to the underpass it will be placed beneath, is something that the council long considered to create a safety barrier as the number of students walking across the on and off-ramps of Interstate-5 increased.
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
