POLL: New Fairgrounds Sign—Like It? Love it? Loathe it?

Is it a welcome, much-needed addition to the York Road corridor? Or is it an eye sore, further adding distractions to nighttime driving? 

You Tell Us: How do you feel about the new sign? 

Background: The old sign had seen better days—more than a decade ago, to be exact. The old sign stood at one of the entry ways to the Maryland State Fairgrounds for 17 years, according to fairgrounds vice president Andy Cashman. 

About 16 months ago, lightning struck the sign that welcomed visitors to not only the state fair, but to the heart of . The South Dakota based company that erected the sign could no longer find the right parts needed to fix it, because the technology was so out-dated. 

Now stands a brightly-lit behemoth, which was erected between Dec. 27 and Dec. 29. There are still parts that need to be added to the frame, as well as a light fixture for some of the wording. 

Fairgrounds administrators said it has been a two-year process for approval and construction of the new sign, which was also signed off on by the Greater Timonium Community Council. 

Cashman attended a GTCC meeting in early 2011 to discuss the site plans, which were met with little criticism, according to council president Eric Rockel. 

But not everyone is convinced. 

"I drove past the monster last night and the thing is so big and bright that it illuminates a good portion of York Road while causing a distraction," wrote a Lutherville-Timonium Patch reader in an email. "Even though I've accepted the fact that York Road is turning into Coastal Highway West - this is slightly ridiculous."

Now have your say. Take a moment to answer our poll and post a comment in the comments section below.