The newly placed blue sign at King Street and Railroad Avenue in Snoqualmie is the first in what could become several signs directing people to downtown services and attractions.

Right now, the single-pole follow-on sign directs people to the nearby Northwest Railway Museum and the Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company, about a block away.

Bob Cole, economic consultant to the city of Snoqualmie, said follow-on signs are meant to help visitors to town, who spot tourist attraction signs on I-90, find those attractions once they get downtown.

Wayfinding signs have been installed at the Ridge, the new Kimball Creek retail center, and downtown.

According to Cole, the Washington State Department of Transportation requires that businesses with freeway signage at Exits 25 and 27 on I-90 have signs to guide visitors to their place of business. WSDOT has determined that businesses not directly located on Railroad Avenue in the downtown district must have follow-on signs. Cole said the follow-on signs are meant to be used for businesses that get freeway signs. The Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company is in the process of acquiring I-90 signs.

Currently, Mike’s Cascade Grill has signs on both directions of I-90 at Exit 25, and follow-on signs point motorists toward the Grill atop Snoqualmie Ridge.

Because the Northwest Railway Museum is not directly on Railroad Avenue and has freeway signage, it was allowed to purchase a slat on the follow-on sign.

Businesses that are required by WSDOT to have follow-on signs must pay the city $350 for their slat on the sign, plus an annual maintenance fee of $25.

“If your eating establishments, tourist activities or lodging businesses have signs on the freeway, a motorist must be able to get to that business easily,” Cole said. “It’s been determined that those businesses advertising on the freeway, that aren’t on the parkway or Railroad Avenue, are going to have something to direct people to the business.”

A third slat on the King Street sign, pointing to public restrooms, will be paid for by the city and added to the sign when the restrooms are completed.

Future follow-on sign possibilities include installing a sign directing people to the new City Hall and post office downtown. Cole speculated that Meadowbrook may also warrant a sign at some point, as the area develops.

North Bend already has its own wayfinding signs, of a similar design and color.

Cole said he appreciates the continuity between the Snoqualmie and North Bend signs.