Restoration work continues on the Welcome to Bedford Limestone Derrick

BEDFORD – Restoration work on the Welcome to Bedford Limestone Derrick continues.

The Welcome to Bedford sign on State Road 37 is an iconic landmark for travelers from the city’s south side.

Mounted on a towering derrick once used to quarry limestone, the sign has been greeting motorists since the late 1970s. However, the derrick and sign show their age and must be repaired.

The Welcome to Bedford sign is visible as you enter the city on State Road 37.

Check out the new foundation for the derrick and the fresh paint in the photos below.

The city received a $100,000 matching grant from the Regional Opportunities Initiative through the group’s Ready Communities 2.0 program. The funds will be utilized to refurbish the city’s aging Welcome to Bedford sign placed on State Road 37, which has been around since the 1970s, and install the Land of Limestone exhibit at StoneGate Arts and Education Center.

The Bedford Board of Works received two bids for the derrick project during their June 2023 meeting. McIntyre Brothers submitted a bid of $219,433.88, and Infinity Solution Excavating Inc. submitted a bid of $113,662.19. Both bids were taken under advisement. On Monday, July 17, 2023, the Board approved and accepted Infinity Solutions bid to repair the derrick.