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Signs, signs, everywhere are signs. And on Northbound Route 15 in Lake Hopatcong, at least one of them is lit up for drivers to see clearly.
The sign comes from North Jersey Advertising and it is the first one the company has done, according to George Crescione, a company spokesman.
North Jersey Advertising has been in existence since earlier this year, Crescione said. The company is an offspring of Tru Productions, which places flat screen advertising boards in restaurants and other public places.
Multiple advertisers at a time use the sign with prices ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 per month, according to company literature. The company’s analysis shows that approximately 12,000 vehicles pass the sign on a daily basis.
Crescione explained that the signs use and LED system for lighting, and that an automatic timer turns the brightness down when the sun goes down.
“They have to be brighter during the day to be seen in the sun,” he said. “Then at night the brightness goes down, because the signs don’t have to be as bright to be seen after sundown.”
North Jersey Advertising did not have to get any special permits for placement of the signs, because billboards were already in place at the spot on Route 15 North.
“There was no zoning needed for this project,” Jim Leach, business administrator of Jefferson Township, said. “They did have to get permits for the electrical work done to the sign and they did that satisfactorily.”
Drivers along Route 15 are mixed in their thoughts on the sign.
“I don’t like it at all. I think it’s a distraction,” said Lake Hopatcong resident Janet Hirschman. “That’s a busy section of Route 15 and you have cars braking to look at the sign. That’s dangerous.”
Besides the danger involved to drivers, some just don’t think the sign is very pretty.
“The sign is kind of garish, and it does mar the countryside look along Route 15,” Lake Hopatcong resident Laura Bald said.
“It definitely takes away from the look of the community,” Lake Hopatcong resident Kerry Colgan added.
But not everyone is against the sign.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” Pete Shapiro, also of Lake Hopatcong, said. “It’s very modern and high-tech looking. I kind of like it.”
What do you think of the new sign? Take our poll and offer your thoughts in the comments section below.
Bob
2:04 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Voted hat it, but to be honest it seems they have adjusted the brightness so it's not as bright at night. Also I believe they removed one of the two signs and only have one so it's not as bad. So they are trying to compromise it seems.
Sandan
3:44 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Their are too many signs on the highway, especially the ones for gutter cleaning, tricky trays and yard sale's! Each telephone pole has enough nails in them to cause
tetnus
Legsverdi
8:08 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
This sign is a "sign" of the future. Have you been to the Jefferson Diner, Black Bear Fitness, or any of the several businesses in town that utilize a television format to advertise their products. Similiar to cell phones and iPads, we just need to get used to it.
Christine
8:08 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
I have no problem with the sign itself but the placement is terrible. Maybe if I were in the passenger seat instead of behind the wheel I could get a better look at it. With where it is located, I couldn't possibly take my eyes off the road to read it or even get a good look at it (and I would hope no one else is tempted to either). As I drove past it the other night, which happened to be a nasty, rainy night, I found it very difficult to even see the road. I'm very familiar with the area and the jughandle turn but still had trouble jugding the roadway due to the distracting bright lights from the sign along w/ the poor visibility the rain caused. Imagine someone who isn't from the area? The driveway for the landscaping business before the jughandle already adds to the confusion in this area. I think it's going to increase the accidents near the Edison Rd jughandle.
Meghan S
8:08 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
I think to each their own. This is a major highway with lots more to worry about than this sign. I would also like to think that the author of this article has more important things to spend her time on! Does it really make you feel better about yourself at the end of the day knowing how many people like or hate this sign?
Tom Ubhaus
9:56 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
I think it is a bright, ugly eyesore. A terrible distraction.
Katrina L
7:16 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
I hate the look of the sign and it is a terrible distraction. However, I understand that the chances of it being removed are slim to nothing. Isn't there anyway it could be dimmed any more during the night? It's very bright at night and a huge distraction.