Stolen too many times, popular road sign won’t be replaced

A sign showing the distance from the beginning of I-40 to the end has proven to be a little too popular and a favorite target of thieves.

Any traveler wanting to know how many miles it is from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Barstow, California, will have to put it in his GPS or MapQuest search it. As reported in the Star-News of Wilmington, the:

…popular sign showing the distance between Wilmington, N.C., and Barstow (BARHS'-toh), Calif., has been stolen for at least the fourth time — and the last.

Apparently the sign is a little too popular, and the familiar sight for those heading west will no longer be seen. Joe Chance, North Carolina transportation engineer, said they won’t erect another sign telling motorists it’s 2,554 miles between the two destinations. Like all roads, it works both ways. Reports have been filed stating there are similar problems with North Carolina’s opposite sign in California, the western end of the terminus of the route on the I-40, noting the distance from Barstow to Wilmington has also been stolen.