A project 15 years in the making has come to fruition in the Pocono Mountains.

Chris Barrett, president and chief executive officer of the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, said eight “Welcome to the Pocono Mountains” signs have been installed along major corridors in Carbon, Monroe, Wayne and Pike counties as part of a regional marketing effort.

“We wanted to do something that would signal a strong sense of arrival when someone is visiting the Poconos,” Barrett said. “These signs serve as a warm welcome to our guests and evoke pride among the residents who call this beautiful area home.”

The project cost more than $230,000 and was funded by grant money through the Federal-Aid Highway Projects, in addition to funds from the PMVB.

“One sign cost $12,468.70, which included the sign, sign post and hardware,” PennDOT spokesman Ron Young said. “The rest of the cost included things like labor, excavation, concrete footings, work zone traffic control, surveying, erosion control, vegetation trimming, etc.”

Former PMVB President Bob Uguccioni successfully applied and was awarded a marketing grant 15 years ago. Barrett said there were some hurdles to clear and a lot of folks stuck with it through the years with their efforts finally materializing.

“We wanted the signs along some of our major arteries to reinforce for folks the area they are in right now,” Barrett said.

In Carbon County, the signs are located along Interstate 80 eastbound in East Side Borough, Interstate 476 northbound in Franklin Township and Interstate 476 southbound in Kidder Township. There are also signs on Interstate 80 westbound in Smithfield Township, Interstate 380 southbound in Coolbaugh Township, and Route 33 northbound in Ross Township in Monroe County; Interstate 84 westbound in Westfall Township in Pike County; and Interstate 84 eastbound in Sterling Township in Wayne County.

“We have nearly 30 million guests coming to this area each year and we want them to know how happy we are they have arrived,” Barrett said. “We’re hearing great things about the signs already.”