PADUCAH, Ky. (Aug. 5, 2019) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is asking residents of eastern Trigg County for assistance tracking down vandals who damaged signs last week along a 6-mile section of KY 1585 between the Trigg County/Christian County line and Sinking Fork Creek Bridge. A preliminary survey by a sign crew found 14 signs that had been defaced with spray paint. Several of the signs had profanity and vulgar symbols painted over them.
KYTC District 1 Chief District Engineer Kyle Poat noted that while the graffiti painted on the signs is offensive, the signs will have to stay up until replacement signs can be produced.
“As offensive as the graffiti may be, the signs will have to stay up until appropriate replacement signage can be prepared for installation,” Poat said. “Our crews will work as quickly as possible to replace the defaced signs, but because of the variety and number of signs that need to be replaced, it may take up to a week.”
KYTC engineers valued the 14 signs at $200 to $300 each. The signs have to be replaced with retro-reflective signs that meet standards of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which sets national standards for signage used by highway agencies in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
“In addition to the almost $5,000 cost of the sign materials, the vandals have endangered motorists who drive this section of KY 1585,” said Poat. “By covering retro-reflective coating, the signs are less visible at night.”
“Our sign crews will be working to replace the signs as quickly as possible once blank sign panels can be delivered and fabricated,” Todd said. “In addition to the almost $5,000 cost of the sign materials, the vandals have endangered almost everyone who drives this 6-mile section of KY 1585. By covering retro-reflective coating, the vandals have reduced the visibility of the signs at night.”
In addition to the cost of replacing signage along KY 1585, the work takes the KYTC District 1 sign crew away from work replacing signs damaged by traffic crashes or in need of replacement across the district’s 12-county region. Poat said the damaged signs in Trigg County illustrate a widespread problem with highway sign damage and theft across the region.
The southern section of KY 1585 is known locally as Caledonia-Pee Dee Road. The northern section is known as Montgomery Road. About 200 vehicles travel this section of KY 1585 in an average day.
KYTC officials are asking anyone with information on the vandalism to contact the Trigg County Sheriff or Kentucky State Police. Engineers are also asking the public to report anyone stealing or vandalizing signage signage in other counties across the region.