Coastal Passage

Art Mortimer

The concrete facing around this pedestrian tunnel under the SR-91 Freeway in North Long Beach is painted to look like a tunnel through the hills and cliffs along the California coastline. On the left side, the rolling hills reveal a lake in the distance with a gazebo near the shoreline. On the right, the rocks and cliffs give way to a beach scene along the California coastline. The pedestrian tunnel allows children in the neighborhood to get from one side of the freeway to the elementary school on the other side. The 18′ x 92′ acrylic mural is a collaborative effort with tile artists Steve Elicker and Lesa Neal. The foreground bushes and trees on the left side and the highway guardrail on the right side are done in tile. Californa Transportation Authority Tunnel Wall