The iconic neon entrance sign for the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California, will be removed soon for restoration and a long-awaited bridge project.
KTLA-TV in Los Angeles reports the sign’s removal is part of the city’s plan to replace the nearly 90-year-old bridge that connects to the pier.
Although the city has not announced an official removal date, the historic signage is expected to come down by the end of September, according to the City of Santa Monica’s website.
“The sign is not being removed permanently or replaced,” the City of Santa Monica website reads. “It is being refurbished and its historic character will remain intact. It will be returned — looking better than ever — to its rightful place at the top of the bridge when construction is complete, expected in late 2027.”
The sign will be dismantled and shipped to Las Vegas, where it will be restored by award-winning sign manufacturer YESCO. […]
A half-scale replica sign has been erected along the temporary walkway while the bridge construction is ongoing.
Santa Monica Closeup posted a video Monday of the preparations for the sign’s removal.
The 20-foot-tall arched sign first was erected in 1941.
The pier will remain open during the bridge reconstruction.
The pier, which opened in 1909, is the home of the oft-photographed “Route 66 – End of the Trail” sign that serves as a traditional, if not actual, western endpoint for many Route 66 travelers.
The “End of the Trail” sign, shepherded by 66-to-Cali owner Dan Rice, was installed in 2009.
The actual western endpoint of Route 66 is a few blocks east at Olympic and Lincoln boulevards. It once was a boring intersection, but that has markedly improved with the addition of a Mel’s Drive-In restaurant a few years ago.
(Image of the Santa Monica Pier sign by Wayne Hseih via Flickr)