Missouri to replace highway welcome signs

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri is sprucing up its state highway signs to be more welcoming for tourists.

The Department of Transportation plans to replace 66 "Welcome to Missouri" signs along interstate, U.S. and state highways. The 14 new signs on the interstates are to be in place before Memorial Day.

Transportation officials said the current signs are 20 years old and that the replacements will be larger and brighter.

Tourism and transportation officials worked together to design the new signs, which will be about two feet wider and taller than the existing ones.

The words "Missouri welcomes you" are printed against a blue background, with a river cutting through the word "Missouri."

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Online:

Highway sign is: http://www.modot.org/documents/StateWelcomeSign.pdf