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This replica sign at the Colorado Welcome Center in Burlington, along with others like it around the state, is intended to be a safer alternative to motorists stopping to take photos with signs alongside the road.

Replica ‘Welcome to Colorful Colorado’ sign installed at Julesburg welcome center

    The Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado Tourism Office unveiled one of a series of replica “Welcome to Colorful Colorado” signs recently at the Colorado Welcome Center in Julesburg. This interagency initiative aims to lure more visitors to the state’s welcome centers and improve safety by giving them a safer spot for a photo opportunity with the iconic and rustic signs than along an interstate shoulder.
    “While we’re very pleased that our ‘Welcome to Colorful Colorado’ signs have become a worthy traffic stop for visitors, we’re approaching safety in all aspects of our system, including this effort to place our iconic signs at rest stops to provide a safer location for photo opportunities,” said CDOT executive director Shoshana Lew. “Partnering with the CTO will help enhance safety for the traveling public and hopefully boost economic activities in the more rural areas of the state. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
    Greeting travelers at Colorado gateways since 1950, the tall wooden signs have become an attraction in their own right, with motorists often parking on highway shoulders to photograph themselves with the sign. The proximity of the signs to high-speed traffic, however, creates a safety hazard.
    To get travelers to pass up on photographing the border highway signs, CDOT will install new signage encouraging them to make a safer stop at the visitor center ahead.
    “These new replica signs give us an exciting new way to attract visitors to our Colorado Welcome Centers, where our volunteer travel counselors can inspire them to explore more and leave more economic impact during their stay,” said CTO director Cathy Ritter, whose office suggested and covered costs for the signs. “Every time we can encourage a traveler to stop by, the better chance we have of inspiring them to seek out new experiences, stay longer and come back for more.”

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