When newcomers and visitors drive into Longview, findingdowntown or other places of interest without a map or mappingdevice can be daunting.
As Longview Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President PaulAnderson noted Thursday, roadways change names from oneintersection to the next.
Since no state highways traverse downtown Longview, finding thecity’s business district or recreational destinations can bechallenging.
After three years of research and collaboration, the city andchamber are solving the problem with signs.
Blue-and-white directional signs, each topped with the city ofLongview logo, have appeared on Texas 149/322, U.S. 259, Loop 281and other thoroughfares during the past three weeks.
The signs direct motorists to downtown, Heritage Plaza, LearPark and other destinations. This is the first step of a masterplan to add signage throughout Longview that will point the way toparks, hospitals, city hall, the Maude Cobb Convention and ActivityCenter and other places.
“We needed way-finding in Longview to help visitors find keydestinations that don’t show up on the state signs,” Anderson said.“I particularly have a good head for directions, (but) not everyonedoes. (When driving through an unfamiliar city) I do look for thesigns for the convention center or city hall, and when they arethere, it is a whole lot easier to drive and be alert. Withoutthem, you are looking at a map, and that is dangerous anyway.”
The city contributed $15,000 toward consultant fees that led tothe creation of a master plan, and about $4,800 for installation ofthe signs, so far, said city spokesman Shawn Hara. The chamber paidfor the poles and curved upper portion of most of the way-findingsigns, while the city’s Public Works Department constructed thesigns’ main rectangular portion and provided installation. Athird-party contractor created the more detailed pedestrian signsfound in the city’s 100 Acres of Heritage.
Longview has several paths that change names through town. WhenPegues Place crosses Judson Road to the west, it becomes JohnstonStreet for three blocks and, later, Woodcrest Lane. Spur 502 ismostly Judson Road, except for a four-block section near MarshallAvenue that is a portion of High Street. Though Spur 502 ends atMarshall Avenue, it remains High Street for about three miles inSouth Longview before it joins with South Mobberly Avenue andbecomes Estes Parkway, along with Loop 281, Texas 322 and Texas149.
The north terminus of Mobberly Avenue becomes Fifth Street. And,Loop 281 is named Tomlinson Parkway, Standard Street, Karnes Roadand Harrison Road at various points within the city.
“It is confusing to motorists in that streets frequently changetheir name … Both the layout and the names are troublesome evenwhen they are reading a map,” Anderson said.
Elaine Reynolds, vice president of downtown development for theLongview Chamber of Commerce, said the initiative is “fund-driven”but has had good response from the community. The Main StreetAdvisory Board chaired by Kim Droege has led the way.
Board members wanted to direct motorists into downtown and otherLongview areas through the “best, easiest, most aesthetic” routes,Reynolds said. Visitors driving in from U.S. 259 who might beconfused can find the bright blue signs and easily see thedirection to downtown. New residents who might live in Spring Hillor areas north of town can use the signs to find downtowndestinations such as city hall and the courthouse.
Three years ago, the chamber and city joined to determine a planto have way-finding signs installed throughout town. The chamberhired Dallas-based Babendure Design Group to develop an UrbanGraphics Master Plan for new signage that met staterequirements.