Montclair Girls' Art to Grace Fourth Bore

Medallions designed by Aoife and Nuala Gorshow are two 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.

Aiofe was 11 and a fifth grader at Thornhill Elementary School in Oakland when she entered the design competition, according to project officials. Her sister Nuala was 8 and a third grader at Thornhill at the time.

"When I see both of our designs up on the tunnel together I will remember the day that we drew those medallions,“ Nuala said. “I'll feel proud to see my work up there. I will feel proud of me and my sister."

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.

Don't miss a day of Alameda news, opinion and events. Sign up here for the Alameda Patch morning e-newsletter. And 'like' us on Facebook!