FINAL UPDATE: Delay on San Bruno btwn Harkness and Wilde has cleared. IB/OB 8/8AX and 9/9R resuming regular service. (More: 10 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 1/2/15

Project Advancements

January 3, 2015 - January 12, 2015

During the next 10 days, Central Subway construction work continues at sites in SoMa, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach. This section contains brief updates about recent construction activities and a look-ahead for what to expect in each neighborhood. 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.

  • Sewer work on 4th Street between Freelon and Bluxome streets.
  • Street light conduit work on Townsend Street between 4th and 5th streets.

Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Excavation of the station along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets. Repairing utility lines at 4th and Jessie.

  • Closure of the sidewalk at 4th and Clementina streets continues. Access Clementina Street from 5th Street.
  • Two lanes on the east side are open between Market and Mission.

Union Square: Construction resumes on Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets. Work crews are demobilizing the Winter Walk, which includes installation of barricades, pile installation and excavation.

  • Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets is anticipated to be partially closed to vehicular traffic starting Jan. 5.
  • Closure of Stockton Street between Geary Boulevard and Post Street may begin the week of Jan. 5.

Chinatown: Construction crews are demobilizing equipment and excavating the site in preparation for the station roof. Ongoing utility installation at Stockton and Washington streets.

North Beach: Restoration of the retrieval shaft site is anticipated to be completed during the week of Jan. 5.

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
A worker cleans up the roadway on 4th Street.
  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 waterline installation at intersection of 4th and Harrison streets.
  • 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 late February 2015.
      • Perry and Stillman streets between 3rd and 4th streets are temporarily converted to two-way alleys.
      • Perry and Stillman streets are 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 contractor will maintain a safe path of travel.
    • The sidewalk on the west side of the block will remain closed.

Ongoing construction (Bryant to King):

  • Street light conduit work on Townsend Street between 4th and 5th streets.
  • Sewer work on 4th Street between Freelon and Bluxome streets.
  • Work may involve saw-cutting and jack-hammering in the roadway and sidewalk. Expect an increase in noise.
  • Work hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Bryant to King):

  • During work hours, two traffic lanes will remain open on 4th Street from Bryant to Bluxome streets.
  • Parking may be impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone.
  • Sidewalk access may be limited. The contractor will maintain a safe path of travel.
  • The contractor will maintain access to businesses during business hours.


At the future Yerba Buena/Moscone Station, excavation of the site has begun.
  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. Excavation of the site is ongoing. Night work continues from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Ongoing construction (Howard to Folsom):

  • Excavation of the site.

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Howard to Folsom):

  • Two lanes of traffic are open on 4th Street from Howard to Folsom streets.
  • Street closure of Clementina Street at 4th Street.
  • The sidewalk along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets is closed.

On 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison streets, replacement of a sewer line is to be completed by early January.

Ongoing construction (Folsom to Harrison):

  • Replacement of a sewer line.
    • Work hours: 7 a.m. to 3 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 sewer line work.
  • Parking may be impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone.

On 4th Street between Market and Mission streets, work on repairing utility lines is ongoing.

Ongoing construction (Market to Mission):

  • Replacement of utility lines
    • Work hours: 24 hours

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Market to Mission):

  • Two traffic lanes will remain open on the east side.
  • Parking is impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone.

Construction is set to resume on Monday, Jan. 5 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. Construction crews are re-establishing the work area on Monday, Jan. 5.

Ongoing construction (Ellis to Post):

  • Demobilizing the Winter Walk and installing barricades.
  • 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 Geary Boulevard is closed to vehicular traffic.
  • Closure of Stockton Street between Geary Boulevard and Post Street is anticipated the week of Jan. 5.

Ongoing construction (Ellis Street):

  • Re-establishing the work area.
  • Excavation of the area.

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Ellis Street):

  • Partial closure to vehicular traffic starting Jan. 5 from Stockton to mid-block.

Excavation of the future Chinatown Station site is set to start.
  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):

  • Demobilization of station wall equipment.
  • Excavation of station site.
    • Construction hours are Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Replacement of a high pressure water line and installation of a fire hydrant on Washington Street between Stockton and Spofford streets.
    • Construction hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Rebar delivery between the hours of 4 and 6 a.m.

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

  • Washington Street:
    • Remains closed between Stockton and Trenton streets.
    • Between Powell Street and the construction zone is converted into a two-way street.
    • Between Stockton and Spofford streets, parking may be limited during construction hours.


The retrieval shaft site is scheduled to be vacated early January.
  North Beach

Powell Street from Union Street to Filbert Street

At 1731-1741 Powell, restoration of the site is anticipated to be completed early January.

On Columbus Avenue between Union and Filbert streets, street lighting will be completed by mid-January.

Ongoing construction (1731-1741 Powell):

  • Complete restoration of the site.
  • Contractor may work up to 2 a.m., Monday to Friday with occasional weekend work.

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (1731-1741 Powell):

  • Several parking spaces may be unavailable in front of the construction area.

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, Instagram or Flickr, and check out our blog.

Construction schedules are subject to change.