‘Calexico’ sign to be installed near POE
CALEXICO — Four-foot-tall metal letters spelling out the word “CALEXICO” will be installed this week at the northwest corner of Second Street and Cesar Chavez Boulevard.
The fabricated metal letters will be placed atop an existing concrete wall that will be adorned with a mural. Work on the mural was scheduled to begin this past weekend.
Both the mural and CALEXICO sign are expected to be completed by June 25, when the city will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the recently completed $7.5 million Chavez Boulevard expansion project.
The expansion project now allows Chavez Boulevard to serve as the primary route for both southbound and northbound Calexico West Land Port of Entry vehicle traffic.
The metal letters will be painted the same color maroon that appears in the seal of the city. They were manufactured by Complete Metal Fabrication in El Centro at a cost of about $6,000.
Funds for the art installation come from the non-profit Calexico Arts Council, which is funded through the city’s development fees.
The three-dimensional letters are reminiscent of those often seen in major cities and tourist attractions, such as Cancun, Mexico, said Calexico Community Services Director Sandra Tauler.
“We are excited that we are going to have something different,” she said. “When people go through the intersection they will be able to see an awesome welcome sign.”
Tauler had initially suggested installing some sort of “Calexico” sign at the intersection. With other’s input, a final design was submitted to the city’s Arts, Library and Historical Board for approval.
Metal was chosen since it can withstand the sun’s direct heat better than other materials. Lighting will allow motorists to admire the sign at night as well, she said.
The completion of the Cesar Chavez Boulevard expansion project comes after about nine months of construction.
The project was an integral part of the traffic mitigation efforts related to the recently completed $98 million phase 1 Calexico West Land Port of Entry expansion project.
As part of the Chavez Boulevard project, two lanes of north- and southbound traffic were created between Highway 98 and Grant Street. The two northbound lanes between Second
Street and Grant Street remain.
The Chavez widening project also installed bike lanes in both directions, street lighting, sidewalks, a traffic signal at Grant Street, as well as turning and auxiliary lanes for merging traffic.
Funding for the project came from various sources, including a $5.5 million federal grant and about $1.3 million in Measure D funds, the city previously reported.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place at 9 a.m. June 25 at the intersection for Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Second Street. For more information, contact the city Public Works Department at (760) 768-2160.