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Central Subway Construction Update 1/30/15

Central Subway
Project Advancements

January 31 - February 9, 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 and Chinatown 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.

  • Starting Feb. 2, partial lane on 4th Street between Harrison and Perry streets will reopen to bus traffic only
  • Tentative sewer work may begin the week of Feb. 9 on 4th Street between Brannan and Townsend streets
  • Utility work continues on 4th Street between Brannan and Bluxome streets
  • Pile installation continues on 4th Street between Welsh and Brannan streets

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

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

Chinatown: Excavation of the site in preparation for the installation of the station roof. Ongoing utility installation at Stockton and Washington streets.

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 Installation of an AT&T vault continues at 4th and Bryant streets.
  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
  • 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
      • Partial lane of traffic between Harrison and Perry streets will reopen for bus traffic only starting Feb. 2
      • 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 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 starting week of Feb. 9
  • 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 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


The crew demobilize wall building equipment at the future Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. The excavation of this site is now underway.
  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. Night work hours have been reduced but may still be necessary at times.

Ongoing construction (Howard to Folsom):

  • Demobilization of station wall equipment
  • 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 slated for completion by mid February.

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, ground improvement activities and repair of utility lines is ongoing.

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 necessary for ground improvement activities
  • Parking is impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone

Workers uncover and reconfigure utility lines at the corner of Stockton Street and Geary Boulevard. 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):

  • Pile installation
  • Utility relocation and support
  • Excavation of the site
  • 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 of the site

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 may be limited at times in the area

 The crew excavate the site and expose the tops of the walls that were built for Chinatown Station.
  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):

  • Excavation of station site
    • Construction hours are Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 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 3:30 p.m.

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

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

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.