Sausalito, California: Robin Williams Rainbow Tunnel

Rainbow is only painted on northbound direction. But it sure is a lovely touch for Robin.

The Robin Williams tunnel sign is located in the middle of this freeway, probably so fans can't take pix next to it. The original sign stating the freeway name "William T. Bagley" is off to the right of the freeway.

I used to love seeing the rainbow tunnel as a kid since I was born around this area, but I am so glad they renamed it for Robin Williams. I'd like to think it's because of his rainbow suspenders from Mork & Mindy. It's very fitting.

The Waldo Tunnel, with its dual rainbow arches, has been renamed the Robin Williams Tunnel, and now features official signs. The tunnel is along a steep grade climbing up from the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County, where the beloved actor/comedian lived before his death in 2014.

The rainbows were originally painted around the tunnel bore in 1970, and restored whenever they significantly faded. Williams' first major TV role was coincidentally as a rainbow suspender-wearing alien on Mork and Mindy.

One thing no one talks about much any more is the 1980s color tile debacle, when thousands of people donated money to sponsor tiles intended to permanently replace the tunnels' painted rainbows. The "Rainbow Tile Project" raised over $50k in $15 per tile donors, but the money was apparently squandered (locals recall that the guy in charge of the project disappeared), and Caltrans disavowed any involvement with the project.