Sign of the times: How does NDOT determine when to replace aging freeway signage?

The Nevada Department of Transportation maintains a program for freeway sign replacement, though most work is timed to coincide with major road improvement projects. This approach avoids the significant traffic impacts caused by lane or full freeway closures needed to safely install new signage, according to NDOT spokesman Joe Harrington.

Several aging signs remain in the resort corridor, including a directional sign on the northbound I-15 off-ramp at Flamingo Road and a merge sign on the mainline just north of Flamingo. That stretch of I-15 between Flamingo Road and Sahara Avenue is the last section near the resort corridor slated for improvement, but options are still under study through 2028.

The replacement process involves identifying damaged panels, inspecting support structures, designing signs to meet federal and state standards, securing budget approval, and arranging traffic control and specialty equipment. NDOT operates an in-house sign shop, which reduces costs through economies of scale and ensures ready access to materials.

Harrington said sign costs average around $95 per square foot, meaning a four-by-five-foot panel runs about $1,900. Each NDOT district manages its own sign maintenance budget and responsibilities across the state.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal