BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – REV Birmingham and the city tonight kicked off a project meant to make walkways under downtown viaducts more inviting and bring the city center a splash of color.

An art-light installment designed by San Antonio artist Bill Fitzgibbons and called "LightRails" was debuted under the 18th Street viaduct near Railroad Park.

The art project is meant to encourage pedestrian traffic and link First Avenue North and the east gate of the park.

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham provided a $247,000 grant to fund the installment and to create a plan to place art-light installments at other key locations. REV Birmingham, the city's economic development organization, will solicit donations from city business to pay for further installments.

The artist, who has done more than 30 public art installments around the world, first made an overpass his canvas in 2006 when he lighted the underside of an Interstate 37 bridge in San Antonio.