Albuquerque – Route 66 Wayfinding Signs

Location:
Albuquerque, NM

Budget:
$200,000

Description:
6 Wayfinding designs along Central Ave. (Rt. 66)
Objective:
New Mexico has the longest stretch of Route 66 or “The Mother Road” known today as Central Avenue. These installations were a New Mexico Arts program initiative that was awarded to EG Structural. Not only were we able to accomplish a memorable wayfinding work of art along this long stretch of historic road, but we were also able to design a brand for the City of Albuquerque, using our state bird, the roadrunner.

Wayfinding Signage That Honors Albuquerque’s Stretch of Route 66.
New Mexico has the longest remaining stretch of Route 66 in the country. In Albuquerque, it’s known as Central Avenue. We were commissioned to develop wayfinding signs that not only help people navigate to their destination but honor their history with “The Mother Road”. Although this project was small, we were able to bring creative wayfinding to the city.

You’ll Never Miss Your Turn in Albuquerque.
Our signs contain a number of elements that bring attention to the historic Route 66. We incorporated elements of Americana with our neon lights, speed and strength with New Mexico’s state bird the roadrunner, and clear functionality with its navigation. We kept it simple yet attention-grabbing in its design. While its development was a straightforward process, its installation wasn’t quite as easy.

Up to Code for The Mother Road.
We designed 6 wayfinding signs to be placed along Albuquerque’s stretch of Route 66, closely working with the New Mexico Department of Transportation, custom fabrication professionals, and other entities to ensure the signs were up-to-code. We had to follow NMDOT’s strict guidelines to ensure the safety and quality of our signs. This included:

  • Use specific fonts and font sizes
  • Use a specific size for our arrows
  • Make the signs reflective so drivers can effectively see them at night
  • And much more
The Success of Our Albuquerque Route 66 Wayfinding Signs.
While we faced these challenges during the design phase of the project, we were able to adapt. These constraints allowed us to design something equally attractive as it is functional. As a result, we put a spotlight on the city’s historic stretch of Route 66 while creating helpful navigation signs for passersby.
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