'Welcome to Strongsville' -- Finally

A pair of long-in-coming signs welcoming I-71 traffic to town are finally under construction.

The first masonry sign is being built along the northbound I-71 entrance ramp from eastbound Royalton Road. The other will greet southbound traffic.

They'll also be seen by motorists passing through Strongsville on the Interstate.

"I think it will give Strongsville the recognition it deserves as the true crossroads of the nation," Council President Mike Daymut has said.

They will be surrounded by landscaped planting areas. 

The signs have been in the planning stage for several years. And even when they were finally approved by the Ohio Department of Transportation last year, .

Jennifer Milbrandt, the city's coordinator of natural resources, was able to convince state officials to build the signs in the areas the city selected.

Milbrandt has said donations will pay the $200,000 cost of the signs.