New Look Envisioned For Davis Entrance Tunnels

DAVIS (CBS13) — An eyesore for some is a creative palate for others. The gateway to Davis may be getting a new look.

The tunnels leading into the city are lacking, say two men who are spearheading an effort to transform them.

"I don't think they properly reflect the spirit or character of the community," said Michael Bisch, co-president of the Davis Downtown Buisness Association.

Stephen Nowicki, a Davis pediatrician, is the other half behind this plan. He's hoping the entrance into the city can better represent the people who live there. The bridge over the tunnels dates back to the city's beginning.

"It is historic," he said. "It is on the national registry. We don't want to do anything to change the bridge itself because it's important."

The plan is for metal artwork outlined with steel mesh, deep enough to be filled with community art.

So far they've gone through a number of steps, but there are still quite a few more on their list. This will be a privately funded project, so money is definitely a concern.

"The financial hurdle is a significant one," Nowicki said. "We don't know yet what the budget will be for the project."

The Historic Council will have some input on what changes are made to the bridge, along with several other groups before this actually gets under way. The hope is to make some gains as early as this summer or fall.

"As people sit here I want them to get the sense as they transition through, that they're changing from a high-speed existence to kind of slow it down a little bit, spend some time in the town," Nowicki said.