DOT to Review Policies on Highway Food, Fuel, and Lodging Signs

Changes to the blue advertising signs on eastern Connecticut’s highways informing motorists of specific food, gas, and lodging businesses might be coming soon. The Connecticut DOT will review the criteria businesses must meet, as well as fees, in order to be on these highly visible signs.

These signs, featuring logos of chains and small businesses, are only allowed on specific highway interchanges.

This reporter looked at the Patch towns of Ledyard, Montville, Groton, Stonington-Mystic, New London, Waterford, and Mansfield-Storrs.

In those towns, specific signs are only allowed on four exits on I-95 northbound, exits 89, 91, 92, and 93, and four exits on I-95 southbound, exits 88, 90, 91, 92, and 93.

On I-395, they are allowed at three exits which are northbound at exit 77 and southbound at exits 77 and 79.

On the Route 6 Expressway, only one sign is allowed eastbound at the unnumbered Route 32 exit.

The DOT does not allow these signs on the following local four-lane highways: Route 2A in Montville, Route 2 in Ledyard, Route 78 in Stonington, Route 32 in New London, and Route 349 in Groton.

Currently, the DOT has requirements based on the type of business. They require gas stations to be within a half mile of an exit ramp and be open 16 hours seven days a week. Food outlets must serve three meals, be within one and a half miles of a ramp, be open 12 hours, seven days a week, and open no later than 7 a.m. Lodging facilities must be within three miles of a ramp, have 10 rooms or more, and be open 24/7. Campsites must be within 10 miles, have accommodations for at least 30 vehicles, and be closed for no more than 180 consecutive days from November 1 to May 1.

Signs can only be placed for businesses that require no more than one turn after motorists leave the exit ramp. 

“I believe the time has come for a comprehensive review of our signing policies and practices,” said DOT Commissioner James P. Redeker, in a press release.  “Our policies are out-of-date and not always business friendly.  We constantly receive requests for signs in the right-of-way along our highways and we need to update our rules and policies to be more flexible, make Connecticut responsive to business, ensure consistency with Federal guidelines, and streamline our practice.”

Currently, there is a $1,500 application fee per business and a required $5,000 performance bond for a new sign. Those wanting to add their logo to an existing sign must pay a percentage of the costs to the initial business that paid for the bond.

Patch wants readers to speak out on the issue. Have you advertised your business on a blue highway sign? What advice can you give other businesses? Has your proposal to advertise on a sign been rejected? What advice can you give the DOT?