Zachary Crockett

Is this whole thing we're looking at here one sign?

It's pretty awesome. When we get out on the yard, I'll show you some really big signs. As a general manager who oversees the plant, Lee Blackman is in charge of running day-to-day operations. I talked to him on the factory floor over the sounds of welding torches and miter saws.

It's pretty awesome. When we get out on the yard, I'll show you some really big signs. As a general manager who oversees the plant, Lee Blackman is in charge of running day-to-day operations. I talked to him on the factory floor over the sounds of welding torches and miter saws.

It's pretty awesome. When we get out on the yard, I'll show you some really big signs. As a general manager who oversees the plant, Lee Blackman is in charge of running day-to-day operations. I talked to him on the factory floor over the sounds of welding torches and miter saws.

The process for making a highway sign begins with a detailed blueprint sent over by Renee Roach at the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The process for making a highway sign begins with a detailed blueprint sent over by Renee Roach at the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The process for making a highway sign begins with a detailed blueprint sent over by Renee Roach at the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The first step of the fabrication process is selecting the right kind of aluminum for the job.

The first step of the fabrication process is selecting the right kind of aluminum for the job.

The first step of the fabrication process is selecting the right kind of aluminum for the job.

The workers haul these huge sheets over to the shearing department, where they're cut to size. Sometimes, signs are so big that they have to be split up into as many as 14 different panels. When the contractor gets it out on the job site, they'll put it together like a puzzle. The sheared metal is sanded down to get rid of any blemishes or rough patches.

The workers haul these huge sheets over to the shearing department, where they're cut to size. Sometimes, signs are so big that they have to be split up into as many as 14 different panels. When the contractor gets it out on the job site, they'll put it together like a puzzle. The sheared metal is sanded down to get rid of any blemishes or rough patches.

The workers haul these huge sheets over to the shearing department, where they're cut to size. Sometimes, signs are so big that they have to be split up into as many as 14 different panels. When the contractor gets it out on the job site, they'll put it together like a puzzle. The sheared metal is sanded down to get rid of any blemishes or rough patches.

Then it's coated with green reflective sheeting.

Then it's coated with green reflective sheeting.

Then it's coated with green reflective sheeting.

Then comes one of the more technical parts of the job, putting the letters on the sign. For large highway signs, each letter is printed individually and placed by hand according to very strict measurements.

Then comes one of the more technical parts of the job, putting the letters on the sign. For large highway signs, each letter is printed individually and placed by hand according to very strict measurements.

Then comes one of the more technical parts of the job, putting the letters on the sign. For large highway signs, each letter is printed individually and placed by hand according to very strict measurements.

It's not a whole lot of leeway. From start to finish, it can take around 12 hours to finish a single large highway guide sign. Once the sign is done, it's taken out into the storage yard. There, racks upon racks of enormous highway signs are lined up to get transported all over the state of North Carolina.