Clean California Project Provides Brighter, LED Lighting Portals in the Bay Area

Project Celebrates Increased Visibility of Vulnerable Users, and Aesthetic Connectivity Across the Region

Alameda County — Drivers traveling through some of the East Bay’s most iconic gateways will soon experience a brighter and more visually unified journey with the completion of the Clean California Portal Lighting Project. The $7.34 million investment, funded entirely through Governor Gavin Newsom’s statewide Clean California initiative, brings programmable architectural lighting to three of the region’s most iconic gateways: the Caldecott Tunnel, Posey Tube, and the Yerba Buena Island portal—key structures that serve millions of travelers each year.

The project introduces modern LED lighting capable of shifting between white illumination and seasonal color displays, enhancing nighttime visibility while celebrating the architectural identity of each structure. These upgrades elevate the driving experience, unify the aesthetic of regional transportation corridors, and support statewide goals to beautify the state highway system.

“This project represents an exciting step forward, demonstrating Caltrans’ commitment to improving the quality of life and the visual character of our transportation system,” said David Ambuehl, Caltrans District 4 Director. “The Bay Area’s portals are not only functional infrastructure, but also historic and cultural landmarks. Through the Clean California initiative, we are highlighting their unique architecture in a way that connects communities and enhances pride in our shared transportation network.”

These improvements honor the spirit and intention of the Clean California effort by elevating the travel experience for drivers, reinforcing regional identity, and supporting livability goals of Caltrans.

This project was made possible through Governor Gavin Newsom's Clean California initiative, a sweeping, $1.2 billion, multiyear cleanup effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and join with communities throughout the state to reclaim, transform and beautify public spaces.

Key Project Features

• Unified Aesthetic: Creates a consistent visual experience across Bay Area gateways, reinforcing architectural identity and regional pride.
• Clean California Investment: Fully funded through the statewide initiative to beautify and improve public spaces along the state highway system.
• Programmable LED Lighting: New energy-efficient lighting capable of white or color displays for holidays, cultural celebrations, and community events.

The Bay Area’s transportation tunnels and portals function as vital regional connectors between Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties, serving commuters, freight operators, visitors, and recreational travelers. Until now, lighting at these structures focused solely on operational illumination. This project elevates these gateways into visually cohesive landmarks that reinforce regional identity and create opportunities for community engagement through color-themed displays.

This project is just one of 314 Clean California projects beautifying communities throughout the state. Since launching Clean California in July 2021, Caltrans and its local partners have picked up more than 3.4 million cubic yards of litter from highways and public spaces – the equivalent of filling more than 136,000 garbage trucks with debris and trash.

Clean California has substantially increased the department’s previous trash collection efforts. Caltrans has now hosted more than 650 free dump days in communities throughout the state – resulting in the collection of 15,500-plus mattresses and 57,000 tires. The initiative has enlisted more than 72,000 community clean-up volunteers and created 18,267 jobs, including positions for individuals who were formerly incarcerated, on probation, or experiencing housing insecurity.

Visit CleanCA.com to learn more about how Clean California is transforming communities and how you can get involved.

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Or call 1-800-472-7623, 1-800-427-ROAD for state highway conditions statewide.