KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Within the next few months you will start noticing street signs around town looking different.

That’s because they’re getting a make-over.

Right now, the signs are all in capital letters, but the federal government says that’s too difficult to read so they want cities across the nation to change them so they include lower case letters.

Community Services Director, Melanie Smith, says the federal government is giving cities a deadline to change all their signs.    

“There is a compliance deadline for 2012 and we'll certainly be working to meet that deadline. We have not started replacing signs at this point but do plane to do so starting in the next year,” Smith sad.

There are guidelines cities will have to follow.

The new signs will have to include upper and lower case letters, the letters will be two inches bigger than they are now and the letters will be placed on a new reflective metal so they are more visible at night.

Some are wondering if the installation of the new signs will disrupt traffic, the city says no.

“It shouldn't disrupt traffic. All the signs will be made in our sign shop and then be taken out and installed at the location so it shouldn't disrupt traffic or anything in your daily life. You'll just notice that the signs are going up around town,” said Smith.

There are about 1,500 signs around Kirksville and will cost the city about $39,000 to replace them.

The city plans to start installing them sometime next year.