"I agree on a shady metal stamping contract theory. Lately on 75 they have replaced every sign and I mean EVERY sign including the mph cautions etc."

The federal sign standards have changed. They use a new font which makes the signs easier to read at night and for those who's vision isn't as good as it used to be.

"I was also reading Matt Helms column in the Free Press a while back, and read about some of the Stimilus package money being used for bike trails. WHAT A COMPLETE WASTE!!!"

Only if you believe that having more cars on the roads is a good thing. More people are commuting by bike to work these days and they use these trails to get there. Those dollars are set-aside for those kinds of projects so they wouldn't be available for road repaving anyways.