Sparks flew Thursday as employees from Lamar Advertising removed a billboard from the intersection of University Parkway and West State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
At noon, a small crew was dismantling the pole that supported the billboard sections at a time. One man used a torch to disconnect each metal segment while a second operated a giant crane that lifted each heavy section from its position. A two-man crew then used a pair or ropes to guide the segment to a waiting flatbed trailer.
A few remaining pieces of the billboard itself, which used to bear advertisements for One Stop Wine & Spirits and Pal’s Sudden Service, were scattered around the base of the pole.
Late last year, Lamar Advertising agreed to remove the billboard, which is located on Johnson City property, by July 31. This came after a complicated legal struggle with the city over whether the structure should remain.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee uses a torch to remove a section of a pole that used to hold a billboard at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee uses a torch to remove a section of a pole that used to hold a billboard in place at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee prepares to tie a strap around a section of the pole that used to support a billboard at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee ties a strap around a section of the pole that used to support a billboard at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee ties a strap around a section of the pole that used to support a billboard at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee ties a rope around a section of the pole that used to support a billboard at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee uses a torch to remove a section of a pole that used to hold a billboard in place at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee uses a torch to remove a section of a pole that used to hold a billboard in place at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee uses a torch to remove a section of a pole that used to hold a billboard in place at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
An employee douses the base of the billboard with water after another worker above uses a torch to remove a section of the pole.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee uses a torch to remove a section of a pole that used to hold a billboard in place at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee uses a torch to remove a section of a pole that used to hold a billboard in place at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee uses a torch to remove a section of a pole that used to hold a billboard in place at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee uses a torch to remove a section of a pole that used to hold a billboard in place at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee uses a torch to remove a section of a pole that used to hold a billboard in place at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee uses a torch to remove a section of a pole that used to hold a billboard in place at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road in Johnson City.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
An employee douses the base of the billboard with water after another worker above uses a torch to remove a section of the pole.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A section of the billboard comes free after a Lamar Advertising employee used a torch to remove the segment from the pole.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
A Lamar Advertising employee operates a massive crane, which was used to remove a billboard at University Parkway and State of Franklin Road sections at a time.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
Lamar Advertising employees use a crane and rope to move a section of the pole that previously supported a billboard at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
Lamar Advertising employees use a crane and rope to move a section of the pole that previously supported a billboard at the intersection of University Parkway and State of Franklin Road.
Lamar Advertising Billboard
Two employees from Lamar Advertising guide a section of the billboard’s pole to a waiting flatbed trailer.