Los Angeles artist created a fake road sign that was so convincing it ended up staying in place for years

A Los Angeles artist once created a fake road sign that was extremely convincing.

In fact, it was so convincing that it ended up staying in place for years.

The need for the fake sign came from a confusing stretch of the 110 freeway through the Los Angeles Basin from Long Beach to Pasadena. 

And so the Los Angeles artist in question took matters into his own hands – literally.

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Los Angeles sign hinders rather than helps

Okay, you might be wondering what on Earth it is we’re talking about.

Back in 2001, a road sign in Los Angeles was causing a lot of confusion.

To be specific, the road in question was the 110 freeway through the Los Angeles Basin from Long Beach to Pasadena.

The highway intersects with several major freeways, including the I-5.

But those seeking to leave to I-5 North from 110 North often missed the turn-off.

That is because the exit itself is a small tunnel tucked off to the side.

It was incredibly easy to miss for cars back then – because there was actually no signage.

At this point, step-up artist and sign maker Richard Ankrom enters the story.

Ankrom decided to perform a ‘guerrilla act of public service’ to help Los Angeles drivers.

“I used to live in Orange County and had gotten lost because it wasn’t adequately signed,” he told ABC7. 

“That’s when it clicked: “I’m a sign guy – I could do this.”

Ankrom set about creating a new sign that would actually help drivers find their exit.

Crucially, Ankrom’s sign included the ‘Interstate 5’ shield emblem, but added the word ‘North’.

The guerrilla sign maker spent around three months researching colors, shapes, and fonts.

Ankrom’s sign works almost too well

The resulting piece of work looked nearly identical to something made by the California Department of Transportation. 

You might be wondering to yourself: ‘How did the Phantom of the freeway actually get the sign up?’

Well, that was the simple part – he simply donned a hi-vis jacket and a hard hat.

Most Los Angeles motorists simply assumed he was another highway worker.

Once in place, the homemade road sign looked so realistic that it stayed in place for years.

As a matter of fact, the truth wasn’t revealed until Ankrom leaked the truth to the press.

Thankfully for the sign-maker, the California Department of Transportation didn’t seem to mind.

That it because the Transportation Department didn’t remove the sign until 2009.

Interestingly, the Transportation Department ultimately replaced Ankrom’s sign with one of its own.

And yet it looked identical to the one that Richard Ankrom made.