BOISE, Idaho (CBS 2) — The State of Idaho is auctioning off a “Welcome to Idaho” sign covered in stickers.
In a blog post from the Idaho Transportation Department, it will be “solving a sticky situation.”
“The Welcome to Idaho sign at the Nevada/Idaho border on US-93 has long been a posting board for stickers hailing from all around the globe,” the blog explains.
For signs that usually should last 10-12 years, it’s a strain on the government’s resources to replace them every 2-5.
ITD would have to replace the sign anyway, but this year they decided to auction it off to the public.
The current highest bid is $510 with 6 days and 17 hours to go as of Sept. 19, 3:45 p.m.
It’s being sold “As Is, Where Is.” As for the replacement, ITD had another idea.
Pete Veenstra a member of the D4 sign team wanted to offer up an alternative sign for people to leave their sticky mark behind.
“One that would catch a passerby’s eye, and hopefully steer them away from vandalizing the welcome sign,” reads the blog.
Veenstra worked with a sign crew to install a large cutout of Idaho and place it next to the new “Welcome to Idaho” sign.
This sign’s sole purpose is for the placement of stickers. It seems as though people are taking to the idea.
Within two weeks of being installed the sticker sign was almost full, and the welcome sign was empty.
“We’re hoping this innovation will take hold, and that our Welcome to Idaho sign will go unscathed for many years to come,” said Carl Horn, a D4 Shoshone east maintenance foreman.
