TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City commissioners put their support behind a proposed new tunnel that would connect the warehouse district with the bay front.

The pedestrian tunnel would be built along with the future Hotel Indigo.

Excavation on the site for the hotel would allow for a significant cost reduction of a tunnel project and city leaders say they support it.

We spoke with the Executive Director for the Downtown Development Authority, Bryan Crough, and he said, "we'll have to, you know, bid out the construction of the tunnel and begin as soon as possible, but the goal is to begin work on the tunnel on the south side of the highway in this summer."

Supporters say this tunnel will provide a much safer alternative for people wanting to cross the busy parkway especially during high traffic times.

The project is budgeted to stay around one million dollars and details may be changed to fit within that budget.