Alameda Girl's Art to Grace Caldecott Tunnel

A medallion designed by Ellina Bartholomew Couts of Alameda is one of six that will adorn the new fourth bore of the Caldecott Tunnel between Oakland and Orinda.

A half dozen designs by students in Alameda County and Contra Costa County were chosen by a panel of six judges, the Caldecott Fourth Bore Project announced today, Aug. 10.

These six medallion designs — three for each county — will be cast in concrete and permanently adorn the new tunnel. The contest’s theme, “Art Deco Revisited," was chosen by the public to honor the legacy of the first bores.

Couts was 10 and a fifth grader at when she entered the design competition, according to project officials.

"The Caldecott Tunnels are separate but united," Couts said in a statement accompanying her entry. "The sun represents rebirth because the sun visits the earth and the tunnels each day. In the picture, the sun is blazing much more than our usual sun would be."

You may view all six winning entries and the honorable mentions on the Caldecott Fourth Bore Project website.

An awards ceremony will be held later this year, project officials said.

The Caldecott Fourth Bore Project is a partnership between the Federal Highway Administration, the California Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and the Alameda County Transportation Commission.

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