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Van Ness Avenue Construction Forecast: November 13 - November 25, 2017

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subject to change. For more project details, please visit sfmta.com/vanness.

Starting in the early morning Wednesday, November 15 northbound traffic lanes will shift to the center of the roadway between Jackson and Lombard.

The traffic shift will provide a second safe working zone while maintaining two lanes of traffic in each direction during construction. Those driving on Van Ness will lanes traveling in the same direction will separate to go around existing median trees in order to preserve them through construction.

Overnight Temporary Bus Stop Shifts 

In order to install temporary bus boarding platforms, some bus stops will shift overnight between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Signs will direct riders to temporary stops. Northbound stops at Jackson, Vallejo and Union streets with shift on Wednesday, November 15, through Saturday, November 16.

Why shift traffic?

Crews need to replace the 1800s-era water and sewer systems beneath Van Ness Avenue. This will reduce their vulnerability to damage from earthquakes and minimize potential service outages. Portions of the emergency firefighting water system that supplies more than 1,200 fire hydrants through San Francisco will also be overhauled and new street and sidewalk lighting will also be installed.

Currently, these aging water systems are located in the center of Van Ness, but will be replaced on the outer edges of the street to ease maintenance and safety in the decades to come.

What to expect 

Utility work zones will be located on the western side of Van Ness Avenue between Sutter and McAllister, and the eastern side of Van Ness Avenue between Jackson and Lombard. Along with the traffic lane shifts, parking is temporarily eliminated in the two utility construction zones, preserving parking opposite the construction zone when possible.

Each of the work areas will occupy one side of the street, approximately five feet from the building line on Van Ness to the center of the roadway. Sidewalk widths will be reduced to no less than five feet adjacent to the two construction zones, and access for people walking will be maintained on both sides of Van Ness Avenue.

In preparation for the upcoming traffic changes, blue zone parking for people with disabilities, loading zones and street furniture such as newspaper stands, bus shelters, bike racks and trash cans have been temporarily relocated.

At times this work requires reducing Van Ness Avenue to one lane in a direction, limiting work to nighttime hours. Construction teams will notify neighbors in advance of night work and will be taking measures to reduce nighttime noise.

Tentative Schedule:

Monday, November 13: Crews will be surveying sidewalks, marking utilities and installing tree protection from McAllister to Lombard streets. Duct banks to power overhead wires for buses will be installed in joint trenches from Grove to Golden Gate.

Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. New lanes will be marked between Washington and Lombard. Neighbors are advised to anticipate construction-related noise, including grinding, as crews work diligently to complete this necessary night work. Crews will begin work to update the emergency firefighting water system from Grove to McAllister streets. Sewer potholing will occur from McAllister to Turk street.

Tuesday, November 14: Crews will be surveying sidewalks, marking utilities and installing tree protection from McAllister to Lombard streets. Duct banks to power overhead wires for buses will be installed in joint trenches from Grove to Golden Gate.

Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Traffic lanes will shift to the northbound lanes on Van Ness early Wednesday morning. New lanes will be marked between Washington and Lombard. Neighbors are advised to anticipate construction-related noise, including grinding, as crews work diligently to complete this necessary night work. Crews will begin work to update the emergency firefighting water system from Grove to McAllister streets. Sewer potholing will occur from McAllister to Turk street.

Wednesday, November 15: In the early hours of the morning, significant shifts to the northbound lanes will be made on Van Ness. Crews will also be surveying sidewalks, marking utilities and installing tree protection from McAllister to Lombard streets. Duct banks to power overhead wires for buses will be installed in joint trenches from Grove to Golden Gate.

Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.  New lanes will be marked between Washington and Lombard. Neighbors are advised to anticipate construction-related noise, including grinding, as crews work diligently to complete this necessary night work. Crews will begin work to update the emergency firefighting water system from Grove to McAllister streets. Sewer potholing will occur from McAllister to Turk street.

Thursday, November 16, and Friday, November 17: Crews will be surveying sidewalks, marking utilities and installing tree protection from McAllister to Lombard streets. Duct banks to power overhead wires for buses will be installed in joint trenches from Grove to Golden Gate.

Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. New lanes will be marked between Washington and Lombard. Neighbors are advised to anticipate construction-related noise, including grinding, as crews work diligently to complete this necessary night work. Crews will begin work to update the emergency firefighting water system from Grove to McAllister streets. Sewer potholing will occur from McAllister to Turk street.

Monday, November 20, through Tuesday, November 21: Crews will be surveying sidewalks, marking utilities and installing tree protection from McAllister to Lombard streets. Duct banks to power overhead wires for buses will be installed in joint trenches from Grove to Golden Gate. Construction fence will be installed from McAllister to Sutter streets.

Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sewer potholing will occur from Jackson to Chestnut street and crews will begin work to update the emergency firefighting water systems from Lombard to Chestnut streets. Neighbors are advised to anticipate construction-related noise, including grinding, as crews work diligently to complete this necessary night work.

Wednesday, November 22: Sawcutting to begin removing the road surface between Jackson and Lombard streets is scheduled. Crews will be surveying sidewalks, marking utilities and installing tree protection from McAllister to Lombard streets. Duct banks to power overhead wires for buses will be installed from Grove to Golden Gate. Construction fence will be installed from McAllister to Sutter street.

Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sewer potholing will occur from Jackson to Chestnut street and crews will begin work on updating the emergency firefighting water systems from Lombard to Chestnut streets. Neighbors are advised to anticipate construction-related noise, including grinding, as crews work diligently to complete this necessary night work.

Thursday, November 23, through Friday, November 24: No work is scheduled for the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

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