Welcome sign needs to be repaired ‘sooner than later’
MEL TOADVINE Close up of the damages to the Welcome to Lehigh sign.
A consulting engineering firm has some advice for the residents of Lehigh in regards to the Welcome to Lehigh sign, often called the “wooden nickel.”
The Lehigh Acres Community Council when it meets on Sept. 15 will be told it must be repaired and soon.
The council asked some of its members to inquire with an engineering firm to see what needs to be done to the deteriorating sign located at Lee Boulevard and Homestead Road. It is an icon in Lehigh, having been put there many years ago, having been moved from another site. It is believed that it was built by the old Lehigh Corporation.
Vince Zaliauskas, principal engineer with HighSpans Engineering Inc. of Fort Myers, issued a report saying that something must be done about the sign “sooner than later.”
Corrosion at the steel base of the wooden frame sign is showing serious problems. Some wonder if the sign could fall and come apart if hit straight on by a vehicle, and others wonder if it can withstand hurricane winds.
In addition, cement is falling off the sign along with thin form stones and it hasn’t been painted for years and the bright green colors are fading. It used to be lit at night, but there is no electric connected to the sign now.
In the report that members of the Lehigh Community Council may hear next week, the engineer consultants that inspected the sign said they believe the sign can be repaired, but that it will require that it be removed and retrofitted off-site.
The firm recommended the following:
The community would need to hire an engineer to design the repair details and a sign repair shop or contractor to carry out the work. For budgeting purposes, they recommended that the Council double the value of any quotes they receive in case there are unknown damaged areas that also will need repaired.
The sign needs to be taken down to be repaired (temporary support frame is probably a good idea).
All corroded connections should be removed and replaced with new steel which is coated with a protective coating (sign and base).
The metal ring around the perimeter should be removed and replaced as well, and in the process, the underlying wood and internal hardware inspected and repaired if needed.
The size and thickness of the replacement ring and hardware will be dictated by the wind loading analysis and designed by the engineer who is hired for the work. The ultimate design wind speed at the site should be 140 mph.
Any missing stonework repaired and the artwork must be repainted.
The existing foundation would need to be exposed to determine the size and to look for any damages.
Reinstall the repaired sign and restore the landscaping.
The consulting engineer also suggested that Lee County be involved in the process, particularly for review and permitting, as the sign is in the right of way.
Zaliaukas noted that the recommendation were not an engineering specification or plans for repairs.
“A properly designed and detailed engineering plan, sealed by a Florida registered professional engineer must be developed prior to ordering any repair work,” Zaliaukas said in his report.
Welcome sign needs to be repaired ‘sooner than later’
MEL TOADVINE Close up of the damages to the Welcome to Lehigh sign.
A consulting engineering firm has some advice for the residents of Lehigh in regards to the Welcome to Lehigh sign, often called the “wooden nickel.”
The Lehigh Acres Community Council when it meets on Sept. 15 will be told it must be repaired and soon.
The council asked some of its members to inquire with an engineering firm to see what needs to be done to the deteriorating sign located at Lee Boulevard and Homestead Road. It is an icon in Lehigh, having been put there many years ago, having been moved from another site. It is believed that it was built by the old Lehigh Corporation.
Vince Zaliauskas, principal engineer with HighSpans Engineering Inc. of Fort Myers, issued a report saying that something must be done about the sign “sooner than later.”
Corrosion at the steel base of the wooden frame sign is showing serious problems. Some wonder if the sign could fall and come apart if hit straight on by a vehicle, and others wonder if it can withstand hurricane winds.
In addition, cement is falling off the sign along with thin form stones and it hasn’t been painted for years and the bright green colors are fading. It used to be lit at night, but there is no electric connected to the sign now.
In the report that members of the Lehigh Community Council may hear next week, the engineer consultants that inspected the sign said they believe the sign can be repaired, but that it will require that it be removed and retrofitted off-site.
The firm recommended the following:
The community would need to hire an engineer to design the repair details and a sign repair shop or contractor to carry out the work. For budgeting purposes, they recommended that the Council double the value of any quotes they receive in case there are unknown damaged areas that also will need repaired.
The sign needs to be taken down to be repaired (temporary support frame is probably a good idea).
All corroded connections should be removed and replaced with new steel which is coated with a protective coating (sign and base).
The metal ring around the perimeter should be removed and replaced as well, and in the process, the underlying wood and internal hardware inspected and repaired if needed.
The size and thickness of the replacement ring and hardware will be dictated by the wind loading analysis and designed by the engineer who is hired for the work. The ultimate design wind speed at the site should be 140 mph.
Any missing stonework repaired and the artwork must be repainted.
The existing foundation would need to be exposed to determine the size and to look for any damages.
Reinstall the repaired sign and restore the landscaping.
The consulting engineer also suggested that Lee County be involved in the process, particularly for review and permitting, as the sign is in the right of way.
Zaliaukas noted that the recommendation were not an engineering specification or plans for repairs.
“A properly designed and detailed engineering plan, sealed by a Florida registered professional engineer must be developed prior to ordering any repair work,” Zaliaukas said in his report.
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