by Welcome to the Robin Williams Tunnel.
The late great comedian and actor’s name now adorns the rainbow-lined Highway 101 tunnel connecting San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge to Marin County.
Julie Wainwright, CEO of The RealReal and formerly of Pets.com, had launched a petition to rename the so-called Waldo tunnel two years ago after Williams died. Wainwright wrote then on Change.org, before garnering 61,907 supporters:
“Named after a politician from the 1850s, the Waldo Tunnel is the fastest way to get between San Francisco and Marin on Highway 101. Tens of thousands of people travel through this landmark each week. Above each of the tunnel entrances are rainbows, which I believe personify Robin in that he was so playful, fun, accessible, alive and colorful. Plus, many people first learned of Robin from his role in the 1970s TV show “Mork and Mindy,” where he often wore rainbow-colored suspenders.
For these reasons, I believe changing the tunnel name would be a fitting tribute to a man who was beloved in our community and admired worldwide. Robin was a one-of-a-kind type of person, and I want him to be honored in an unconventional, everlasting and beautiful way. This is just one way that we can do that.
Robin will be dearly missed, but I hope this change will provide us with a happy memory of him and will bring more awareness to the disease that sadly took his life.”
The California State Senate signed a resolution approving the Robin Williams Tunnel renaming back in July.
It is official. You can now drive through the Robin Williams Tunnel when going to/from Marin and San Francisco pic.twitter.com/syHvnLNqL8
— JulieW (@RealRealJulie) March 1, 2016
