Construction Update | November 23-December 9
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, this update covers the next two weeks. Our next update will be on Friday, Dec. 6. Happy Thanksgiving from the Central Subway team!
Near Union Square, Stockton Street part of Stockton Street is now reopened. In this shot, crews finish the paving and traffic striping.
During the next 17 days, tunneling and tunneling preparatory work will continue in SoMa, Union Square and North Beach. Work to prepare for station construction is continuing in Chinatown and northern SoMa. In southern SoMa, preparatory construction is planned to start in December.
Next week, our first tunnel boring machine will cross under Market Street and the existing BART and Muni Metro tunnels. For more information on this major milestone, check out our blog.
This section provides overviews of current and upcoming construction impacts in each neighborhood. For full descriptions, click here or on the links below. We also post construction, traffic detour and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.
Southern SoMa (Harrison to King/Berry):
- New: The start date of utility potholing has been pushed back. This work is now planned to begin the week of Dec. 2 on 4th Street between Bryant and King. Potholing involves drilling holes and trenches in the street to confirm the locations of existing utility lines. Work hours will usually be Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. More details are in the Southern SoMa section and in this construction notice.
- Continuing: 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant may fully close some evenings and weekends. A closure is planned for tonight, starting at 8 p.m. This closure may continue through the weekend. Two lanes of traffic will remain open at all other times. On Bryant Street at 5th Street, the left lane and several parking spaces will remain closed.
- Upcoming: Starting in 2014, additional construction will begin on 4th Street south of Bryant. Work includes relocation of several utility lines, construction of light-rail tracks and construction of an above-ground train station at 4th and Brannan. Impacts will vary during different phases of construction and on different blocks.
Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison):
- New: Tentative: Perform sewer surveys on Folsom near the intersection with 4th Street.
- Continuing: 4th Street between Market and Stevenson will be reduced to two traffic lanes so we can improve the ground as the tunnel boring machines pass below. The work zone is on the east side of the street, in front of Ross. A temporary taxi stand is in place just south of Stevenson.
The two right lanes will remain closed on 4th Street between Howard and Folsom. South of Clementina, the sidewalk on the west side of the street is closed. To ensure safety, pedestrians should use the sidewalk on the other side of the street and cross the street at 4th and Howard.
On 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison, the parking lane and one lane of traffic on the east side of the street will remain closed to allow for ground improvement work.
- Upcoming: After completing preparatory work, we will begin building the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station in the coming months at 4th and Folsom.
- New: Stockton Street between Ellis and O’Farrell is now open to vehicle traffic. Stockton between O’Farrell and Geary is planned to reopen early next week. The blocks will remain open until January 2014.
- Continuing: Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell will remain closed to westbound traffic. At this location, we will improve ground conditions as the TBMs pass below.
- Upcoming: Construction of the Union Square/Market Street Station is starting next year. We will provide more information soon.
- New: Washington Street between Stockton and Trenton may close to vehicles and pedestrians the week of Nov. 25. This closure will allow us to relocate utilities and build an underground station wall in this area. The closure is expected to last for approximately two years.
- Continuing: The contractor continues performing utility work at and around Stockton and Washington. Expect parking impacts around construction zones.
- Upcoming: Within the Chinatown Station site, we are performing archeological surveys and environmental assessments in preparation for station construction next year.
- New: Utility construction will pause at and around the intersection of Columbus and Union from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. Next week, utility construction will be underway from Monday to Wednesday (11/25-27).
- Continuing: At the Pagoda, parking and walkways may be impacted in front of the Pagoda Palace property. We plan to complete work at this location in 2014.
In the Bank of America parking lot at 1455 Stockton, crews are constructing a shaft 20 feet in diameter and 27 feet deep, for use to improve ground conditions when the TBMs pass beneath Columbus Avenue. The parking lot will be closed but the banking drive-thru will remain open. Work hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Upcoming: To ensure we are prepared for the arrival of the TBMs next year, work will continue during December on private property within 1731-1741 Powell Street and the parking lot of 1455 Stockton Street.
We appreciate your patience and support while we build this essential upgrade to San Francisco’s public transportation system.
