Kingman, Arizona, is considering five designs of a gateway arch that would welcome visitors to its downtown, but all the options would cost more than what’s been budgeted.
A report in the Kingman Daily Miner newspaper provided details behind the arch options:
- Across Andy Devine Avenue (aka Route 66) at Locomotive Park. Cost: $170,000. Several city-council members preferred that option.
- Across Andy Devine Avenue at the Powerhouse Visitor Center. Cost: $185,000.
- Across Andy Devine Avenue at Third Street: Cost: $240,000.
- Across Beale Street near Interstate 40. Cost: $255,000, mostly because the arch would have to span five lanes of traffic.
- Across Beale Street between Locomotive Park and Lee Williams High School. Cost: $175,000.
A mockup of the proposed arch posted on the city’s website shows a “Historic Downtown Kingman” message in its center, along with Route 66 shields on both sides with the message “Welcome Kingman, Arizona” and “Get Your Kicks 66.” It would include landscaping and perhaps neon lighting.
A detail of one of the Route 66 shields is seen below:
The city hired Salt Lake City-based YESCO a year to design the arch for $21,244, and budgeted $110,000 for construction. But all the options are well over the city’s budget, despite a donation of $34,734 from the ABC group in 2015.
A study almost 15 years ago indicated such a gateway arch could be built for $65,000.
One official said two local sign companies indicated they were interested in designing the archway, and he urged the city to put the project out for bid again.
Because of the proposed cost overruns and some dissatisfaction with the design, it probably will be another year or so before Kingman’s gateway arch becomes a reality.
(Proposed designs of the Kingman gateway arch via city of Kingman)