New York state officials confirmed that hundreds of ‘I Love New York’ tourism signs will be pulled down from state highways.
After a long running dispute, the signs will be replaced to avoid the withholding of $14 million in funds threatened by federal authorities.
Governor Andrew Cuomo had previously refused to remove them.
Federal government contends the signs are a safety hazard for motorists.
New signs are already reportedly in the works, state officials said and will be installed by the summer.
The new signs will support a new tourism campaign but will only be installed after agreement with federal officials.
"As the current campaign and signs are entering their fifth year, this message has run its useful course and we already plan to launch a new ‘I Love NY’ campaign this summer to support our tourism industry," Department of Transportation commissioner Paul Karas said a statement.
"The new campaign will be ‘NY has it all."
Meanwhile Staten Island Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis slammed the Cuomo administration’s handling of the matter.
"This is another example of how we’re continuing to hit people over the head. It’s an incompetence on [the] government to have put these signs up being that it’s a violation of federal law , then there was an arrogance not taking them down."
Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. John DeFrancisco also criticized Cuomo and wants a hearing on why emergency state funds were used to erect the signs.
