Art Below the Underpass-

G Street Project Artwork Seen Only by Walkers

Some of the artwork along the south sidewalk at the G Street underpass. Photo: Steve Newvine

There are two displays of public artwork that most people never see when traveling the city streets of Merced. 

The art on the walls along the G Street underpass can only be appreciated by walkers. It is hidden from drivers along the busy roadway.

The underpass has been used since December 2011 following an eighteen-month construction period.

By all accounts, it has made a big difference in moving cars through the city.

The G Street Railroad Underpass cost $18 million to build back in 2011. Photo: Steve Newvine

As the only rail underpass in the city, the project eliminated the stopping of cars as trains passed on the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad tracks at what was then an at-grade crossing.  

The underpass has likely saved lives as a public safety solution to emergency vehicles having to wait as trains zipped through. It is also assumed that the air is a little bit cleaner from the elimination of stopped cars waiting for trains to pass at the intersection.

As a newcomer to the city in 2006, I was taken aback by having to wait on a train passing through. I referred to it as “Railroad Roulette” as I would head out for a meeting, wondering if the arms at a crossing might come down when I needed to get through.

Artwork along the north sidewalk of the G Street Rail Underpass include tributes to Merced’s Hispanic and Hmong communities. Photos: Steve Newvine

The City touted the artwork on the pedestrian walls underneath the span at the time. According to a news report at the time, artists Monika Modest and Kristan Robinson were commissioned to create the art.

Monika was involved in several community art initiatives, including the Starry Night mural at the Merced Open Air Theatre in Applegate Park and the Poppies Galore installation at Bob Hart Square. In 2018, the Merced Garden Club honored her with a Beautification Award.

On the southern wall, there’s an array of tiles similar to what can be seen at Bob Hart Square at Main and Canal Streets in downtown Merced. There is also an interpretation of the Merced Courthouse Museum and Merced Theatre.

On the northern wall are two montages: one honors the Hmong community, while the other honors the Hispanic community.

A Merced Sun Star story about the bridge's dedication in 2011 referred to surveillance cameras that protect the art. Either the cameras were not that good, or no one was viewing the images from them because, in late August 2024, several damaged tiles and graffiti were along parts of the walls.

The City of Merced logo is imbedded into the G Street Rail Underpass. Photo: Steve Newvine

The project was the City’s largest road project in 2011, with an eighteen-million-dollar price tag.

The cost was paid with state tax dollars, redevelopment agency funds, City public facility financing fees, and the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railroad. The City spent another two million four hundred thousand dollars on water line replacements and other improvements in the project area.

While the artwork is pleasing to look at, some repairs need to be made to restore it to its condition at the grand opening. In the meantime, it remains one of the City’s fascinating public art displays.  

“We truly appreciate our public art,” said Merced Mayor Matt Serrato. “It makes our city so much more vibrant.”

In a free moment, please take a few minutes to walk along the sidewalks under the bridge and see the artwork that helped define our community back in 2011.

It is a display that only people who walk along the sidewalks can see.

Steve Newvine lives in Merced.

Meet him and other local authors at the Merced County Library Author Fair on September 14 at the Merced branch.

The event runs from 10:00 am to Noon and is free to attend. Local authors will be selling their books at the event. He will have copies of his California books available for sale and for signing.