At the end of the road, this new sign will let motorists know they’re in Costa Mesa

Crews began installing a new monument sign at the terminus of the 55 Freeway on Monday that motorists will see when they enter and leave Costa Mesa.

The structure, about 18 feet high and 12 feet wide, has a concrete base with several beams that hold up two identical steel mesh signs. For motorists exiting the 55 and heading south toward West 19th Street, one of the signs reads “Welcome to Costa Mesa” and has the city logo.

For drivers heading north out of downtown, the other sign says “Costa Mesa” and contains the logo.

Raja Sethuraman, city transportation services manager, said the project should be finished within two weeks. Landscaping nearby could be completed within a month, he said.

The monument, which will be lighted at night, has been about eight years in the making.

Funding for it and the landscaping was secured in January 2008 through a $500,000 federal transportation grant. In 2010 and 2012, the City Council held study sessions to pick from design concepts created by an engineering firm.

Council members said at the time that they hoped the monument would be “in line with the evolving downtown and Westside areas,” according to a city staff report.

The council approved the final project in November 2012, and the California Department of Transportation approved it in 2014.