Second electronic billboard going up in Tarentum
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More than a year after it was approved, Tarentum’s second megawatt billboard is finally expected to light up the borough’s western side.
Weleski Transfer along West Fourth Avenue got the go-ahead from council to erect an electronic sign, 14 feet tall by 48 feet wide.
“We’re excited it’s moving along, finally,” said Gary Weleski, owner of the 115-year-old company.
“We think it will be a benefit to town, with some of the stuff that will go on there.”
The approval came on the heels of a similar billboard erected last year by another company on the opposite side of the Tarentum Bridge. That sign was the result of a four-year legal battle between the borough and Oliver Outdoor, which ended with the borough losing in Commonwealth Court.
Weleski’s billboard initially was expected to be installed last winter but hit supply chain issues with the steel.
On Friday, a construction crew from Alabama began working to erect the 70-foot pole that will hold the sign. A hole was dug to fit 7-foot-diameter sleeves. The sign will be lifted in the coming days.
“It’s looking like it will be lit up by mid-December,” Weleski said.
The sign will be double- sided. It have the capacity to display eight, 7.5-second ads every minute.
Local and national businesses will be sought, but Weleski said he plans to make space available for nonprofit messages, too.
“We’re hoping that, when we have some space available, we can put up a blip for fire departments and ambulance services,” Weleski said.
“This is a Weleski sign, but we want it to help the community.”