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Central Subway Construction Update 2/20/15

Central Subway
Project Advancements

February 21 - March 2, 2015

This section 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, scroll down or click 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.

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

  • Utility work on Folsom Street at 4th Street
    • Two traffic lanes available on Folsom Street during work hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

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

Chinatown: Excavation of the site and preparation for the installation of the station roof.

  • Sewer upgrade starting Feb. 23 on Stockton Street between Washington and Jackson streets
    • Parking lanes on both sides of Stockton Street will be used for travel lanes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

North Beach: Work in front of 1731-1741 Powell Street (retrieval shaft) is anticipated to finish by the end of February. Hours of work are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. A lane of traffic will be available on Powell Street.

  • Sidewalk restoration is slated for completion by the end of Feb.
  • Street light installation may start by the end of Feb.

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.

The Central Subway Team Platform foundation work continues at the future 4th and Brannan Station.
  Southern SoMa

4th Street from Harrison Street to King Street

On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets, the contractor excavated a launch box at the site where the two Central Subway tunnels begin. This site is being converted to a portal.

On 4th Street between Bryant and King streets, relocation and installation of utilities continues.

Ongoing construction (Harrison to Bryant):

  • High pressure water line installation
  • Portal construction

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Harrison to Bryant):

  • At the intersection of 4th and Harrison streets:
    • Two traffic lanes will remain open on Harrison Street, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Access to I-80 freeway may be limited on some evenings from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and during weekends
    • Parking may be impacted in the vicinity of the construction area
  • On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets:
    • Full closure until early March, when one lane will reopen
      • Partial lane of traffic between Harrison and Perry streets reopened for bus traffic only
      • Stillman Street between 3rd and 4th streets is temporarily converted to two-way alleys
      • Stillman Street is accessible from 3rd Street
      • Parking on the south side of Stillman Street is impacted Monday to Friday, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and on weekends
    • Sidewalk access on the east side of the block may be limited
    • The sidewalk on the west side of the block will remain closed

Ongoing construction (Bryant to King):

  • Sewer work on 4th Street between Brannan and Townsend streets
  • Utility work on 4th Street between Brannan and Bluxome streets
  • Pile installation on 4th Street between Welsh and Brannan streets
  • AT&T vault installation at 4th and Bryant streets
  • Work may involve saw-cutting, potholing and jack-hammering in the roadway and sidewalk
  • Work hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Bryant to King):

  • During work hours, two traffic lanes will remain open on 4th Street from Bryant to Townsend streets
  • Parking on 4th Street from Bryant to Townsend will be used as traffic lanes during the construction
  • Sidewalk access may be limited
  • The contractor will maintain a safe path of travel as well as access to businesses during business hours


Workers use an excavator to dig into the ground in preparation for installation of the roof slab on 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets.
  Northern SoMa

4th Street from Market Street to Harrison Street

  On 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets, work to construct the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station continues. Station walls have been completed. Excavation of the site is ongoing.

Ongoing construction (Howard to Folsom):

  • Utility work on Folsom Street at 4th Street
    • Night work hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • Excavation of the site
  • Installation of roof slab

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Howard to Folsom):

  • Two right lanes on Folsom Street available during utility work
  • Two lanes of traffic on 4th Street are open
  • Street closure of Clementina Street at 4th Street
  • The sidewalk on the west side is closed

On 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison streets, the roadway is being restored.

Ongoing construction (Folsom to Harrison):

  • Restoration of the roadway
    • Work hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Folsom to Harrison):

  • Two traffic lanes will remain open
  • Access to the I-80 freeway may be reduced to one lane during water line and sewer line work
  • Parking may be impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone

On 4th Street between Market and Mission streets, ground improvement activities and repair of utility lines continues. This work will occur seven days a week.

Ongoing construction (Market to Mission):

  • Replacement of utility lines and ground improvements
    • Work hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Market to Mission):

  • Two traffic lanes will remain open on the east side
    • An additional traffic lane may be used for ground improvement activities
  • Parking is impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone

Workers carefully dig around utility lines on Ellis Street. Union Square

Stockton Street from Ellis Street to Post Street

On Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets, the contractor is building the Union Square/Market Street Station.

Ongoing construction (Ellis to Post):

  • Utility relocation and support
  • Excavation
  • Construction hours may be 24 hours a day, Monday to Saturday, Sunday work may be required

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Ellis to Post):

  • Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets is closed to vehicular traffic
    • Local deliveries may access Maiden Lane from Post Street
    • Sidewalk access may be limited at times
  • Muni service impact:
    • The bus stop for the 38 Geary Route on Geary Boulevard at Stockton Street is discontinued until further notice 
    • Board bus on Geary Boulevard at Powell Street

Ongoing construction (Ellis Street):

  • Relocation of utilities
  • Excavation

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Ellis Street):

  • Ellis Street is closed to through traffic between Stockton and mid-block until the end of March
  • Sidewalk access in the area may be limited at times

 Work on excavating the future Chinatown Station continues at 933-949 Stockton Street.
  Chinatown

Stockton Street from Sacramento Street to Washington Street

  At 933-949 Stockton Street, construction and excavation of Chinatown Station is underway.
  Ongoing construction (Sacramento to Washington):

  • Sewer upgrade starting Feb. 23 on Stockton Street between Washington and Jackson streets
    • Construction hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Waterproofing installation
  • Excavation of station site
    • Construction hours are Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Sacramento to Washington):

  • Parking lanes on Stockton Street between Washington and Jackson streets will be used for traffic lanes during sewer work
  • Washington Street:
    • Remains closed between Stockton and Trenton streets
    • Is converted into a two-way street between Powell Street and the construction zone  

Connecting People. Connecting Communities.

Muni Service Impacts: The bus stop for the 38 Geary Route on Geary Boulevard at Stockton Street is discontinued until further notice. Board bus on Geary Boulevard at Powell Street.

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, Instagram or Flickr, and check out our blog.

Construction schedules are subject to change.