Mayor Introduces Electronic Sign, Revamped Bridge Concept

City officials are exploring plans to over SOM Center Road and turn it into a proper entranceway into the city.

The plan is only in a concept stage and will likely be modified as officials study it more, said Mayor Susan Drucker, who introduced it this week before the safety committee at .

The concept calls for building a false facade on the bridge with a decorative steel arch with "Solon" in the center. The false facade would appear to be part of the bridge.

Two electronic signs would be displayed on each side of the bridge so cars heading in both directions could see the signs.

The retaining walls along the road would also be revamped with brick, Drucker said.

Drucker said she hopes to bring preliminary cost estimates to the safety committee in August.

Electronic signs would "minimize the unsightly and sometimes unsafe condition of the bridge," Drucker wrote in a memo to the safety committee last month.

Right now, Service department workers have to walk out on the bridge to hang the signs over heavy SOM Center traffic, so an electronic sign would eliminate that potentially dangerous work.

It also would prevent signs from coming loose and falling on cars below.