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Central Subway Construction Update 12/5/14

Project Advancements

December 6 - December 15, 2014

During the next 10 days, Central Subway 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 work on Stockton Street in Union Square has paused for the holiday season. Work within the station sites, underground work, and night work has continued. See your neighborhood section below for details.

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): Construction crews are relocating and installing new utilities along 4th Street from Harrison to King streets.

  • At the intersection of 4th and Brannan streets, sewer line work is scheduled for Dec. 8 to Dec. 12.
    • Night work hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  • On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets, construction of the portal continues.
    • Closure of this section of 4th Street through the end of February 2015.

Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Construction crews are building walls along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets.

  • Temporary closure of covered sidewalk along 4th Street from Howard to Clementina streets from 8 p.m. Dec 8 to 5 p.m. Dec 12.
    • Pedestrians may access Clementina Street from 5th Street.

Union Square: Construction crews have converted Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Geary Boulevard into a holiday plaza called "Winter Walk SF."

  • On Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets, pile installation to construct underground station walls.
    • Night work hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Chinatown: Construction crews are building station walls and installing new utilities on Stockton Street between Sacramento and Washington streets.

North Beach: Construction crews are restoring the retrieval shaft site.

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 Workers cut back some brush from a fence line to allow room for the installation of an AT&T vault.  Preparations for the extension of the T Third Line continue along 4th Street. Southern SoMa

4th Street from Harrison Street to King Street

On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets, the contractor constructed a major excavation known as a launch box at the site where the two Central Subway tunnels begin. This site is being converted to a portal. Underground operations are based here.

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 Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Access to Interstate 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 accessible from 3rd Street.
      • Parking on the south side of Stillman Street is impacted.
    • The sidewalk on the west side of the block will remain closed.

Ongoing construction (Bryant to King):

  • Sewer line work at intersection of 4th and Brannan streets.
    • Night work from Dec. 8 to Dec. 12, Monday to Friday, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  • AT&T duct bank and vault installation on 4th Street between Bryant and Bluxome streets.
  • Sewer line installation on 4th Street between Brannan and Welsh 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 Brannan 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.

An excavator scoops out a load of material and prepares to offload into a dump truck. 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. The construction of underground station walls is ongoing. Night work continues from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday.

On 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison streets, work on replacement of a sewer line.

Ongoing construction (Howard to Folsom):

  • Construction of station walls.

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Howard to Folsom):

  • Temporary closure of covered sidewalk along 4th Street from Howard to Clementina streets from 8 p.m. Dec 8 to 5 p.m. Dec 12.
    • Pedestrians may access Clementina Street from 5th Street.
  • 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 Clementina and Folsom streets is closed.

Ongoing construction (Folsom to Harrison):

  • Replacement of a sewer line.
    • Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Folsom to Harrison):

  • Two traffic lanes will remain open on 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison streets during sewer line work.
  • 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.

Construction work continues underground near Ellis and Stockton streets.  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. Most work at this location is pausing until Jan. 5.

On Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets, crews continue with pile installation to construct station walls.

Ongoing construction (Ellis to Post):

  • Site work has temporarily paused.

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

  • Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Geary Boulevard is open to pedestrians.
    • Until Jan.1 this area has been converted into a pedestrian friendly holiday plaza called "Winter Walk SF."
  • Muni service impact: The bus stop on Geary Boulevard at Stockton Street is anticipated to reopen in early December.

Ongoing construction (Ellis Street):

  • Pile installation to construct station walls.
    • Night work Dec. 8 to Dec. 12 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Ellis Street):

  • Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets is temporarily closed to westbound traffic heading toward Powell Street.

Station walls continue to be built for the future Chinatown Station. The Central Subway will open to the public in 2019. Chinatown

Stockton Street from Sacramento Street to Washington Street

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

  • Construction of station walls.
    • 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.

A temporary roll-up door has been installed at the entrance of the southbound tunnel. At the opposite end of this 8500 feet long tunnel is the retrieval shaft in North Beach. North Beach

Powell Street from Union Street to Filbert Street

At 1731-1741 Powell, restoration of the site continues.The work at this location is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

On Columbus Avenue between Union and Filbert streets, street lighting will be completed by mid-January 2015.

Ongoing construction (1731-1741 Powell):

  • 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.

Muni Service Impacts: The bus stop for the 38 Geary Route on Geary Boulevard at Stockton Street is temporarily closed until early December. Board bus on Geary Boulevard at Powell Street.

Contact Us: If you have questions about construction or the Central Subway Project you can reach us at central.subway@sfmta.com or by phone 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.