Central Subway Blog

The Union Square|Market Street Station will enhance links to the Bay Area’s transportation network. This will be a direct concourse-to-concourse connection to the existing Powell Street Station for easy transfers to BART and Muni Metro.

This underground station will be a transfer point for 38,000 daily riders.

The new bus stop will be located on Stockton Street at Jackson Street.

Due to upcoming construction activity, the bus stop for the southbound 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton, and 91 Owl routes on Stockton Street between Washington and Jackson streets will be relocated. The new bus stop location is on the northwest corner of Stockton and Jackson streets in front of Little Paradise.

Discontinued old bus stop on Stockton between Washington and Jackson streets.

The new bus stop will continue to service the following southbound routes:

• 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express
• 30 Stockton
• 45 Union/Stockton
• 91 Owl

Service for these bus routes will remain as scheduled.

The crew build rebar cages that will be transformed into beams to support the roof of the future Chinatown Station.

This post contains brief updates about recent construction activities and a look-ahead for what to expect in Southern SoMa, Northern SoMa, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach over the next two weeks. For more detailed information, click here or on the links below. You can also find construction, traffic detour, and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.

Construction schedules may change due to unforeseen conditions. We encourage the public to follow traffic and pedestrian notifications posted at the work sites.

Southern SoMa (Harrison to King): Utility work continues along 4th Street from Harrison to King streets. Ongoing portal construction on 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets.

Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Excavation and construction of station roof along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets are underway. Ongoing ground improvement activities at 4th and Jessie streets.

Union Square: Excavation of the station, relocation and supporting of utilities on Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets are ongoing.

Chinatown: Excavation of the site and installation of the station roof are in progress.

• On April 8, potholing will be on Clay at Stockton
  • Work hours: Wednesday only, 10a.m. to 3p.m.
• Potholing along Stockton Street between Sacramento and Jackson streets
  • Parking will be unavailable during work hours Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Muni Service Impact:
    • Starting April 9, a bus stop for southbound 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton and 91 Owl on Stockton Street between Washington and Jackson streets is discontinued
    • New bus stop location is on Stockton Street at Jackson Street
    • Wednesday, April 8, the 1 California bus stop on Clay at Stockton will be temporarily relocated 60′ east of the existing stop between 10a.m. to 3p.m.

North Beach: Completion of sidewalk restoration and demobilization of equipment in front of 1731-1741 Powell Street by April 10. Hours of work are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday work may be required.

We thank the businesses, residents, shoppers, and commuters of San Francisco for their continued engagement with this significant investment in the extension of our public transportation system. When opened in 2019, the Central Subway will provide a much-needed connection between major employment, retail, cultural and residential areas of the city.

An overhead view of the future Chinatown Station, where customers will descend on escalators to underground station platforms and trains.

Construction crew members install rebar prior to pouring of concrete for forming the station roof.

Lifting machines (pictured in the background) and excavators were used to remove soil from the construction site in preparation of roof-slab installation.

The crew continue to remove excess concrete from the top of a previously constructed slurry walls on Clementina Street.

This post contains brief updates about recent construction activities and a look-ahead for what to expect in Southern SoMa, Northern SoMa, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach over the next two weeks. For more detailed information, click here or on the links below. You can also find construction, traffic detour, and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.

Construction schedules may change due to unforeseen conditions. We encourage the public to follow traffic and pedestrian notifications posted at the work sites.

Southern SoMa (Harrison to King): Utility work continues along 4th Street from Harrison to King streets. Ongoing portal construction on 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets.

Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Excavation and construction of station roof along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets are underway. Ongoing ground improvement activities at 4th and Jessie streets.

Union Square: Excavation of the station, relocation and supporting of utilities on Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets are ongoing.

• Night work on Geary Boulevard and Stockton Street from March 29 to April 2
  • Geary Boulevard between Grant Avenue and Powell Street is closed to through traffic during work hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • Muni Service Impact:
    • Outbound 38 Geary route between Kearny and Mason streets rerouted during night work hours
    • Bus stops on Geary Boulevard at Kearny and at Powell streets will not be in use during detoured hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
      • Use alternate bus stops at Market and Montgomery streets or Geary Boulevard and Taylor Street

Chinatown: Excavation of the site and installation of the station roof are in progress.

• Potholing along Stockton Street between Sacramento and Jackson streets
  • Parking will be unavailable during work hours Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

North Beach: Completion of sidewalk restoration, streetlight work and demobilization of equipment in front of 1731-1741 Powell Street anticipated by March 28. Hours of work are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We thank the businesses, residents, shoppers, and commuters of San Francisco for their continued engagement with this significant investment in the extension of our public transportation system. When opened in 2019, the Central Subway will provide a much-needed connection between major employment, retail, cultural and residential areas of the city.

A decorative set-back curb and wall located above the Central Subway tunnel entrance south of Harrison on 4th Street.

View of the tunnel portal ramp from 4th and Stillman during construction of the portal walls, which will separate automobile traffic from light rail vehicles.

Workers put up temporary bracing while they pour concrete for the tunnel portal walls at 4th and Perry Alley.

Workers install new utility lines along the portal structure on 4th Street
between Harrison and Bryant streets.

This post contains brief updates about recent construction activities and a look-ahead for what to expect in Southern SoMa, Northern SoMa, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach over the next two weeks. For more detailed information, click here or on the links below. You can also find construction, traffic detour, and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.

Construction schedules may change due to unforeseen conditions. We encourage the public to follow traffic and pedestrian notifications posted at the work sites.

Southern SoMa (Harrison to King): Utility work along 4th Street from Harrison to King streets. Portal construction on 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets.

• One traffic lane is open on 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets
• The left lane on the I-80 freeway off-ramp at 4th and Bryant streets may be closed during potholing and pipe installation work
• Sewer upgrade work has expanded to 4th Street from Townsend Street into the intersection of King Street (more info here)
  • During work hours of Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • No access to I-280 from King Street, use 3rd Street detour
    • No left turn from north bound 4th Street onto King Street, use 3rd or 5th streets to access I-280
    • Pedestrian access to the north crosswalk on 4th Street at King Street is unavailable

Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Excavation and construction of station roof along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets are underway. Ongoing ground improvement activities at 4th and Jessie streets.

Union Square: Excavation of the station, relocation and supporting of utilities on Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets are ongoing.

Chinatown: Excavation of the site and installation of the station roof are in progress.

• Potholing starting March 23 along Stockton Street between Sacramento and Jackson streets
  • Parking will be unavailable during work Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

North Beach: Completion of sidewalk and streetlight work in front of 1731-1741 Powell Street anticipated the week of March 23. Hours of work are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We thank the businesses, residents, shoppers, and commuters of San Francisco for their continued engagement with this significant investment in the extension of our public transportation system. When opened in 2019, the Central Subway will provide a much-needed connection between major employment, retail, cultural and residential areas of the city.

Workers navigate around the exposed tops of excavated piles for the future Central Subway station near the Ellis Street entrance to Powell BART.

Crews unearth 50-year-old temporary walls used originally for construction of the Ellis Street entrance to Powell BART.  Workers are currently excavating the future Union Square/Market Street Station mezzanine.  This underground passageway will be a key connection for the Central Subway and regional transit.

Excavation is approximately half-way to the final depth of the south station mezzanine.  When completed, crews will have dug roughly 40 feet deep.

The crew continue to excavate the site under Stockton Street between Maiden Lane and Geary Boulevard. Overhead braces have been installed to support the uncovered utilities.

This post contains brief updates about recent construction activities and a look-ahead for what to expect in Southern SoMa, Northern SoMa, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach over the next two weeks. For more detailed information, click here or on the links below. You can also find construction, traffic detour, and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.

Construction schedules may change due to unforeseen conditions. We encourage the public to follow traffic and pedestrian notifications posted at the work sites.

Southern SoMa (Harrison to King): Utility work along 4th Street from Harrison to King streets. Portal construction on 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets.

• One traffic lane has reopened on 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets
• The left traffic lane on the I-80 freeway off-ramp at 4th and Bryant streets may be closed during potholing and pipe installation work
• Sewer upgrade work has expanded to 4th Street from Townsend Street into the intersection of King Street (more info here)
  • Work hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • No access to I-280 from King Street, use 3rd Street detour
  • No left turn from north bound 4th Street onto King Street, use 3rd or 5th streets to access I-280
  • The north crosswalk on 4th Street at King Street is unavailable
• The bus stop for the 47 Van Ness and 83X Mid-Market Express on 4th Street at Townsend Street has been relocated to Townsend Street between 4th and 5th streets

Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Excavation and construction of station roof along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets are underway. Ongoing ground improvement activities at 4th and Jessie streets.

Union Square: Excavation of the station, relocation and supporting of utilities on Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets are ongoing.

Chinatown: Excavation of the site and installation of the station roof are in progress.

• Monitoring equipment installation on sidewalks along Stockton Street between Sacramento and Jackson streets
  • Sidewalks to remain open
  • Work hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

North Beach: Completion of work in front of 1731-1741 Powell Street is anticipated by the week of March 16. Hours of work are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Hydrant relocation and sidewalk restoration continues
• Street light installation may start in late March

We thank the businesses, residents, shoppers, and commuters of San Francisco for their continued engagement with this significant investment in the extension of our public transportation system. When opened in 2019, the Central Subway will provide a much-needed connection between major employment, retail, cultural and residential areas of the city.

If you happen to be near 4th and Harrison streets you will notice the progress on the portal. The ramp structure houses the entrance and exit to the Central Subway tunnels.

The portal’s roof slab ends in a crescent.	Workers build the walls.
Metal reinforcement (rebar) sticks out from the top of the recently poured cement sides.	The construction workers use basket cranes to access the upper sides of the portal.

One traffic lane on 4th Street, between Harrison and Bryant, recently reopened to traffic.

The crew prepares to restore the roadway.

Restoration of one lane of the roadway was completed yesterday.

The portal structure is expected to be completed by May.

Weekly updates of construction progress are posted to this blog on Fridays.