New batch of signs will soon be hitting 30A

Signs will more than likely be going up on County Road 30A next month – but not the kind you might think.
Walton County in correlation with the Friends of 30A group has contracted Signtek Llc. to create fabricated wayfinding, safety and mile marker signs for the Timpoochee bike trail.
The Glatting Jackson group was hired for community planning and design.
Phase one of a two part sign project is estimated to cost $160,000 and be completed in July, although no date has been tentatively set for completion. Phase two is still being discussed as to what will be included and what the approximate cost would be.
 “We anticipate getting them to the county in mid-July,” said Signtek head Kim Sutton. “Unfortunately we can’t give an exact date. We stopped the project for a short time for the community to respond and look at the drawings.”
Sutton said many have had concerns that there will be too many signs along the road, but noted many will be removed when the new ones go up.
“Certainly as many, if not more signs, will be removed as put up,” he said. “It’s going to create a really cohesive environment.”
Commissioner Cindy Meadows, who has worked on the project from the start, said some of the new Timpoochee signs will feature historical and educational facts and some will list trail etiquette.
Last year, the South Walton Tourist Development Council spent $260,000 on wayfinding and community signs. The community signs were removed last month after controversy arose over their design.
The current blue wayfinding signs that are in place on 30A are scheduled to be removed when a new design is created, but according to Sutton, the new signs are still in the design stage.
“Right now we’re trying to assist the county in making use of the old signs,” he said.
 “We’re either trying to sell them or repaint and reface them for some other use.”