FINAL UPDATE: California Cable Car Line is resuming regular service. (More: 12 in last 48 hours)

This page has older content

Please see Related Projects on this page for current project information. We are keeping this page as a record of SFMTA outreach.

Central Subway Construction Update 2/19/16

Thank you for your interest in the Central Subway Project, which is a significant project in the history of San Francisco's public transportation network. This project is the first underground line to link the north and south corridors of the city, and will provide a direct connection to major retail, sporting and cultural venues while efficiently transporting people to jobs, educational opportunities and other amenities throughout San Francisco.

This is an exciting time as the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's | Central Subway team works to construct a vital transportation link that, when open in 2019, will improve connectivity for the city. Southbound tunnel at the Yerba Buena|Moscone Station,100 feet beneath 4th Street Central Subway | Project Advancement

February 19, 2016 - February 29, 2016

This notice provides a construction update and a look ahead for what to expect in the areas where we are building four new stations along the alignment. You’ll find information about work activities, traffic and transportation impacts taking place over the next two weeks at SoMa, Yerba Buena|Moscone, Union Square and Chinatown.

Construction schedules, bus routes, and stop locations are subject to change due to unforeseen conditions. Signs will be posted at affected stops to advise of service changes.

Our thanks go out to the businesses, residents, shoppers, commuters, and all those who are touched by the Project, for their continued engagement as we work to extend the city's public transportation system.

The Central Subway Team

Sewer work is performed at 4th Street and Brannan Street Surface Station, Trackwork and Systems Work along 4th Street between Bryant Street and King Street includes construction of a surface station between Bryant Street and Brannan Street. The construction team is upgrading utilities and trackwork on 4th Street between the tunnel portal at Bryant Street and the connection with the existing light rail system at King Street.

Current activities include utilities relocation, Muni manhole, duct bank, water line work from the water department, auxiliary water supply system (AWSS), sewer structure modification work and overhead catenary system (OCS) pole foundation work.

Installation of a 36" sewer line at the intersection of 4th Street and Townsend Street continues through March. Hours of construction are 7p.m.to 5a.m. 

Emergency track circuit repair will be performed at the intersection of 4th and King on Friday, February 19 and Saturday, February 20.  Hours of construction are 10p.m. to 10a.m.
  A worker welds a section of sewer pipe on Brannan Street
  Utility work is performed in a trench at 4th Street and Bryant Street Overview

  • Installation of Muni manhole and duct bank
  • Utility installation
  • Installation of AWSS
  • OCS pole foundation work
  • Installation of 36' sewer line
  • Emergency track circuit repair

Details

What: Installation of Muni manhole, duct bank, utility installation
Time: 7a.m.- 4p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: Brannan Street between 4th Street and 5th Street, Townsend Street to King Street

What: Installation of AWSS
Time: 7a.m.- 4p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: 4th Street between Brannan Street and Townsend Street and 4th Street between Brannan Street and Bluxome Street

What:  OCS pole foundation installation
Time:  7a.m. - 4p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: 4th Street between Bryant Street and Townsend Street

What: Installation of 36" sewer line (night work)
Time:  7p.m. - 5a.m.
When:  Monday to Friday
Where: Intersection of 4th Street and Townsend Street

What: Emergency track circuit repair (night work)
Time:  10p.m. to 10a.m.
When:  Friday, February 19 and Saturday, February 20
Where: Intersection of 4th Street and King Street What to expect

  • Work may involve saw-cutting, potholing and jack-hammering on the roadway and sidewalk
  • Sidewalk access may be limited
  • Access will remain open for pedestrians and businesses 
  • Parking and Traffic Impact
    • Parking will be unavailable in the work area along 4th Street
  • Muni Impact
    • 30 Stockton and 45 Stockton|Union bus stop will be relocated 100 feet west of 4th Street and Townsend Street during night work sewer installation

A worker welds in the north end of the station box Yerba Buena | Moscone Station

4th Street from Howard to Folsom

Work along 4th Street between Howard Street and Folsom Street consists of construction of the underground Yerba Buena | Moscone Station. The cut and cover method known as a "top-down" or "bottom-up" approach involves construction of a box frame structure within a trench excavation that is subsequently backfilled.

Excavation for the station is taking place. Night work to perform potholing is scheduled to end Saturday, February 20.

A welder works on steel panels Excavation is ongoing in the station box Overview

  • Excavation
  • Potholing

Details

What: Excavation
Time:  7a.m.-7p.m.
When:  Monday to Friday
Where: 4th Street between Howard Street and Folsom Street

What: Potholing (night work)
Time:  9p.m - 5a.m.
When:  Saturday, February 20
Where: Intersection of 4th Street and Howard Street What to expect

  • Clementina Street is closed at 4th Street
  • The sidewalk on the west side of 4th Street is closed
  • Parking and Traffic Impact
    • Two lanes of traffic open on the east side of 4th Street

Concrete is being removed to prepare for roof deck installation on Stockton and O'Farrell Union Square | Market Street Station

Work continues along Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Post Street. The construction of an underground Union Square|Market Street Station uses the cut and cover method known as a "top-down" or "bottom-up" approach and involves construction of a box frame structure within a trench excavation that is subsequently backfilled.

Current activities include roof deck installation, demolition of the southeast corner of the Union Square Garage, compensation and jet grouting, and utility relocation. Compensation grouting work starts Monday, February 22 on Stockton Street between Maiden Lane and Geary Blvd.

A view of the future south concourse on Stockton Street, south of O'Farrell Street
  Workers fill in a trench on Stockton Street between O'Farrell Street and Ellis Street Overview

  • Installation of roof deck
  • Utility relocation and support
  • Excavation at north concourse
  • Partial demolition and remodeling of Union Square Garage
  • Rebar installation
  • Concrete installation
  • Compensation grouting

Details

What: Roof deck, utility, excavation, rebar installation, partial demolition of Union Square Garage, and concrete installation
Time: 7a.m.-11p.m.
When: Monday to Saturday
Where: Ellis Street to Post Street
* Construction hours may be 24 hours a day, Monday to Saturday, Sunday work may be required

What: Compensation grouting
Time: 6a.m.- 4p.m.(Monday to Friday) and 6a.m - 2p.m. (Saturday)
When: Monday to Saturday
Where: Maiden Lane to Geary Street What to expect

  • Local deliveries may access Maiden Lane from Post Street
  • Sidewalk access may be limited at times
  • Parking and Traffic Impact
    • Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Post Street is closed to vehicular traffic

Workers assemble a rebar cage that will be part of an interior wall Chinatown Station The construction of an underground Chinatown Station uses the sequential excavation method (SEM) along Washington Street and Stockton Street. The SEM provides a high degree of flexibility during construction and makes it possible to control virtually all kinds of ground conditions, thereby greatly reducing the risks of construction. This method of tunnel construction is used worldwide for small to large openings in a variety of ground types ranging from rock to soil.

Sprayed concrete (shotcrete) and other supporting elements immediately after exposure, followed by installation of additional steel and shotcrete support elements until a safe stable opening is created will be used.

Current activities include utility relocation, excavation of the headhouse, north access (emergency exit) shaft construction and sewer upgrades. A worker grinds steel beams that will be installed in the headhouse The entrance to the future station platform is constructed with wood Overview

  • Excavation of station site
  • North access (emergency exit) shaft
  • Dewater pipe installation

Details

What: Excavation of station site
Time: 24 hours
When: Monday to Saturday
Where: Stockton Street and Washington Street

What: North access (emergency exit) shaft
Time: 7a.m. - 5p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: Stockton Street, Washington Street to Jackson Street

What: Dewater pipe installation
Time: 7a.m. - 7p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: Intersection of Stockton Street and Washington Street

  What to expect

  • Sidewalk access may be limited at times
  • Parking and Traffic Impact
    • No parking on both sides of Stockton Street between Washington Street and Jackson Street
    • One lane of traffic on both sides of Stockton Street between Washington Street and Jackson Street
    • Washington Street:
      • remains closed between Stockton Street and Trenton Street
      • is converted into a two-way street between Powell Street and the construction zone

Connecting People. Connecting Communities.

Contact Us: If you have questions about construction or the Central Subway Project you can email us at central.subway@sfmta.com or call us at 415-701-4371.

For More Information: The Central Subway team posts frequent project updates on a variety of social media outlets. To find out more about the project and construction progress, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr and check out our blog.

Construction schedules are subject to change.