The hand-painted wooden signs which feature a small bunch of grapes at the top are a signature feature on the Vineyard, replicated in postcards, on T-shirts and refrigerator magnets. Usually they hang from ornate metal posts. MassHighway installed most of these signs over 25 years ago, although many of them have been repaired or replaced over time by the towns.

Now a state plan to replace many of the familiar directional signposts on the Island with new ones that feature a breakaway style pole found on most major highways has drawn darts from Vineyard officials, who feel the changes are unnecessary and out of character with this place, which prides itself on its quaintness.

The state Department of Transportation, formerly MassHighway, wants to replace some of the directional signs in five of the six Island towns, with the exception of Aquinnah, with new signs and posts that meet current safety standards. The new signs feature eight-inch galvanized steel poles that breakaway when struck by motor vehicles.

Under the plan the signs themselves would largely remain unchanged, but the poles would be substantially wider and use a series of plates that detach in case of collision. The plan is to replace around 30 signs around the Island, 12 in Edgartown alone.

It is unclear if the new break away-style is required by the state, but the situation is complicated because the agency has already signed a contract with Liddell Brothers Inc. of Halifax to remove, replace and dispose of many of the Island’s directional signs.

Workers are now replacing the signs, and the work is scheduled to be completed on March 10.

In early December the proposal prompted Stuart Fuller, Edgartown highway superintendent, to write a letter to the department of transportation opposing the changes.

“I would like to express the desire of the town of Edgartown to not make changes to these signs. When I started my job in Edgartown seven years ago, most of these signs were in disrepair, and I replaced the signs and rebuilt the decorative steel brackets at considerable cost. Some are entirely new,” Mr. Fuller wrote.

He continued: “The aesthetics of these signs are important to Edgartown, and the Island, and we would prefer that these signs remain. Most are located on town property. If the ones that are on state property are a concern, I would be happy to relocate them to town property, and will commit to maintain them.”

Bernard McCourt, district highway director for the state department of transportation, responded with a letter on Dec. 17 explaining the reasoning behind the new signs.

“The job is being done as a safety improvement project bringing all the signs and posts up to the current standards. All of the posts will be of the breakaway style and the signs will be upgraded to Mass DOT’s current standards. However, the grape style logo and color is being maintained,” Mr. McCourt wrote.

Dukes County manager Russell Smith this week said he understood why the state would want the breakaway signs in urban areas and along major highways, but he questioned the need for them here.

“This is not I-95, it’s Martha’s Vineyard. Most of the places you find these signs the traffic is slow, the cars driving maybe 20 miles per hour. Most of these signs they want to take down are brand new . . . it seems like overkill to me,” he said.

Mr. Smith said Island officials had appealed for help to Cape and Islands Sen. Robert O’Leary and Rep. Tim Madden for assistance. When reached by telephone this week, Mr. Madden said his office had put a call into Mr. McCourt to see if the two sides could reach a workable solution.

Mr. Madden, a Nantucketer, also questioned whether the new signs were necessary.

“I will leave it to the two sides to work it out, but I understand why people are concerned. The Vineyard is a special place, anything that changes the aesthetics must be considered very carefully,” he said.

In an update on the situation yesterday afternoon, Mr. Fuller said he had spoken with Mr. McCourt and was able to strike a compromise of sorts, that will allow the towns to paint the steel signposts either black or green, and also have a say in the height of the posts.

He said the signs in Edgartown slated for replacement will be given back to the town and temporarily stored at the highway garage. Town officials may have the ability to design new brackets, and hang the older signs from the new posts. He said the new signs are basically the same as the current ones; they are made of wood with scrolling letters, and have a decorative scroll or carving on the top.

He said he was pleased the state agreed to listen to the town’s concerns.

“There is some compromise here, on both sides. It’s not the perfect solution, but they have agreed to work with us. No, we’re not talking about a four-lane interstate with a 55-mile-per-hour speed limit . . . but this will meet the state’s safety requirement,” Mr. Fuller said.

Department of Transportation spokesman Adam Hurtubise said the new signs were designed to fit the character of the Island.

“The panels themselves won’t change much; some people might not even notice the difference. And we will continue to work with the towns to come up with a solution that works for everyone,” he said.