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Central Subway Construction Update 10/25/13

Construction Update

October 25-November 4, 2013

During the next 10 days, tunneling and tunneling preparatory work will continue in SoMa, Union Square and North Beach. Work to prepare for station construction is continuing in Chinatown and northern SoMa. 

This section provides overviews of current and upcoming construction impacts in each neighborhood. For full descriptions, scroll down or click on the links below. We also post construction, traffic detour and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.

Southern SoMa (Harrison to King/Berry):

  • New: None
     
  • Continuing: 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant may fully close some evenings and weekends. Two lanes of traffic will remain open at all other times. On Bryant Street at 5th Street, the left lane and several parking spaces will remain closed. One lane of the I-80 off ramp at 4th and Bryant may be closed at night to allow for utility work.
     
  • Upcoming: We expect to begin potholing for utilities on 4th Street between Bryant and King in the coming weeks. This involves drilling small holes and trenches in the street to confirm the locations of existing utility lines. A community meeting will be held in November to inform neighbors about this and other upcoming work. Look out for more information soon.

Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): 

  • New: Tentative: Next week, partial temporary lane closures may be in effect on Folsom Street near the intersection with 4th Street to allow for sewer surveys. This work may take place at night.
     
  • Continuing: The two right lanes are now closed on 4th Street between Howard and Folsom. South of Clementina, the sidewalk on the west side of the street is closed. To ensure safety, pedestrians should use the sidewalk on the other side of the street and cross the street at 4th and Howard. On 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison, the parking lane and one lane of traffic on the east side of the street will remain closed to allow for ground improvement work.
     
  • Upcoming: 4th Street between Market and Stevenson will be reduced to three traffic lanes so we can improve the ground as the tunnel boring machines pass below. The work zone will be on the east side of the street, in front of Ross. Expected start: mid-November.

Union Square: 

 

  • New: None
     
  • Continuing: Stockton Street between Geary and Ellis will remain closed to vehicle traffic. Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell will remain closed to westbound traffic.
     
  • Upcoming: Next month we will restore the area and reopen Stockton Street to traffic.

Chinatown:

 

 

  • New: Starting Monday, October 28, sewer line work on Stockton between Sacramento and Clay will impact sidewalks and the parking lane for about three days. Sidewalks will remain open but may be narrowed. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On October 30 or 31, nighttime sewer work will take place on the same block. Work will start at 7 p.m. and last up to 15 hours.
     
  • Continuing: We are demolishing the building at 933-949 Stockton Street and performing utility work on Stockton between Sacramento and Jackson. Temporary partial lane closures will be required along Stockton Street as utility work progresses. Parking will also be impacted, and temporary bus stop relocations will be required. We will post notification of temporary bus stop locations at the impacted stops. The sidewalk adjacent to 933-949 Stockton will remain closed to pedestrians at least through the middle of next week. One lane of Washington Street will remain closed just west of Stockton Street.
     
  • Upcoming: Construction of the Chinatown Station. More details coming soon.

North Beach:

 

 

  • New: On Monday, October 28, we will begin work at and near the intersection of Columbus Ave and Union Street. This work will complete the utility relocation started last year. More details are included in the North Beach section and in this flier. Early in the morning on October 28, large equipment will be delivered to the Pagoda Palace site. This work will start around 3 a.m. and finish by 6 a.m. Traffic on Powell Street may be impacted. A pedestrian monitor will be on site to direct pedestrian traffic.
     
  • Continuing: At the Pagoda, construction hours will usually be Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., though later work hours (until 7 p.m.) and Saturday work may be required. Parking and walkways may be impacted in front of the Pagoda Palace property.
     
  • Upcoming: In the Bank of America parking lot at 1455 Stockton, crews will begin constructing a shaft 20 feet in diameter and 27 feet deep, for use to improve ground conditions when the TBMs pass beneath Columbus Avenue. This work is planned to start Monday, November 4, and last for about six months. The parking lot will be closed but the banking drive-thru will remain open. We do not anticipate impacts to transit, roadways or pedestrian walkways as a result of this work.

We appreciate your patience and support while we build this essential upgrade to San Francisco's public transportation system.

-The Central Subway Team
As TBM Mom Chung moves forward, the tunnel grows longer. The 350-foot machine is currently beneath 4th and Howard. Southern SoMa

 

4th Street from Harrison to King/Berry

On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets, the contractor has constructed a major excavation known as a launch box at the site where the Central Subway tunnel begins. After assembly of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) underground, tunneling started this summer. Assembly of a second TBM (Big Alma) is now in progress, with launch expected soon.

Planned construction:

 

  • Construct tunnel for southbound trains (TBM Mom Chung)
  • Test and commission TBM Big Alma
  • Launch TBM Big Alma

Traffic and pedestrian impacts:

 

 

  • The two lanes on the east side of the street (left lanes for southbound traffic) will remain open to vehicle traffic except as described below.
  • The block may close to traffic from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. on weeknights and all day Saturday and Sunday.
  • The sidewalk on the west side of the block will remain closed; the sidewalk on the east side of the block will remain open.
  • On Bryant Street at 5th Street, the left lane and several parking spaces will be closed.

Traffic and pedestrian controls are in place. For more information on construction impacts at this site, check out this blog post.
4th Street from above
The entrance to the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station will be located here, on 4th and Folsom.
Northern SoMa

 

4th Street from Market to Harrison

On 4th Street between Mission and Howard, the contractor is installing instruments to monitor utilities while the tunnel boring machines pass beneath the roadway.

On 4th Street between Howard and Folsom, preparatory work to construct the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station is now in progress at the corner of 4th and Folsom. Station construction will start soon.

On 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison, the contractor will perform ground improvements while the tunnel boring machines pass beneath the roadway. 
Planned construction (Mission to Howard):

 

  • Install instruments to monitor utilities. Work may occur at night.

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Mission to Howard):

 

 

  • One lane between Mission and Howard will be closed until early next week

Planned construction (Howard to Folsom):

 

  • Remove underground gas tanks
  • Test soil conditions on gas station site
  • Drill to verify ground conditions
  • Install test elements for underground wall construction
  • Work hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Tentative: Survey sewers on Folsom. Night work may be required.

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Howard to Folsom):

  • The two right lanes of 4th Street will remain closed to traffic
  • Clementina between 4th and 5th is closed to thru traffic. Please use this block for local access only.
  • The sidewalk on the west side of 4th Street between Clementina and Folsom will be closed. To ensure pedestrian safety, please use the sidewalk on the east side of the street and cross at 4th and Howard.
  • Big trucks will enter and exit the 4th and Folsom site during work hours. Flaggers will be on site to facilitate truck entry and exit.
  • Tentative: On Folsom on either side of 4th Street, there may be partial temporary lane closures to allow for sewer surveys.

Planned construction (Folsom to Harrison):

 

  • Inject grout underground to improve ground conditions

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Folsom to Harrison):

 

 

  • The parking lane and one lane of traffic on the eastern side of the street (in front of Whole Foods) will be closed

Construction on Stockton Street
Work continues on Stockton Street, the site of the future Union Square/Market Street Station. Union Square

 

Stockton Street from Market to Post

On Stockton Street between Geary and Ellis streets, the contractor is installing below-ground walls called headwalls at the site of the future Union Square/Market Street Station. In addition, ground improvement is underway on Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets.

Planned construction:

 

  • Stockton between Ellis and O'Farrell: The current phase of construction is complete on this block. Site restoration is currently in progress.
  • Stockton between O'Farrell and Geary: Complete headwalls and begin preparation for restoring site.
  • Ellis between Stockton and Powell: The current phase of construction is complete on this block. No work is planned for the next 10 days. The contractor is preparing to restore the site.
  • On Stockton Street, the contractor will work from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays.

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts: 

 

  • Stockton Street between Geary and Ellis is closed to all vehicles except emergency vehicles
  • Ellis Street between Stockton and the Ellis-O'Farrell Garage (between Stockton and Powell) is closed to westbound traffic
  • The 38/38L Geary may experience delays around Union Square
  • Sidewalks on Stockton Street between Ellis and Geary will remain open, but they may be narrowed to facilitate construction

More information about construction at this site is available in this construction notice and this press release. Photo of Chinatown Station property
This week we continued demolishing the building at the future Chinatown Station site. Next we will cart away the demolished brick in large trucks. Chinatown

Stockton Street from Sacramento to Broadway

To prepare to build the Chinatown Station, contractor Tutor Perini is demolishing the existing building at 933-949 Stockton Street. In addition, construction is now underway on Stockton Street.

Planned construction:

 

  • Demolish 933-949 Stockton Street
  • Pothole for utilities On Stockton Street and cross streets. Work hours on Stockton are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On other streets, work will start at 7 a.m., ending at 3 p.m.
  • Night work may be required some evenings next week
  • Expose utilities in potholes. This work involves vacuum trucks and may be loud.
  • Survey water lines on Stockton between Sacramento and Jackson
  • Improve sewer lines on Stockton between Sacramento and Clay

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts:

 

  • Several parking spaces may be closed near the intersection of Stockton and Washington, on both streets, and in the vicinity of construction zones
  • One lane of Washington Street will be closed just west of Stockton Street
  • The sidewalks on Stockton and Washington streets in front of 933-949 Stockton will remain closed at least through the middle of next week
  • The turn lane from Stockton Street onto Washington Street may be closed
  • Temporary partial closures of Stockton Street may occur as utility work occurs along the street.
  • The following bus stops may be temporarily relocated during construction hours: Clay at Stockton (eastbound), Stockton between Sacramento and Clay (northbound). Look for notification of temporary stop locations.
  • The sidewalks and parking lane will be impacted on Stockton between Sacramento and Clay. The sidewalks will remain open but may be narrowed.

Photo of inside of Pagoda theater
Next week crews will start building underground walls at this site in North Beach. The large yellow crane arrived this week. North Beach

Powell Street from Union to Columbus

On private property at 1731-1741 Powell Street, the contractor will construct a walled excavation known as a retrieval shaft at the site where tunneling will end. The two tunnel boring machines will be removed from the ground at this location. Demolition of the Pagoda Palace is now complete. 

Near the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Union Street, the contractor will complete utility work that was started last year. Utility work is planned to begin Monday, October 28. More information is available in this flier.

Planned construction (Pagoda):

 

  • Mobilize equipment for retrieval shaft construction
  • Commence retrieval shaft construction (subsurface walls)
  • At this point, construction hours will usually be Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., though later work hours (until 7 p.m.) and Saturday work may be necessary at times.

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Pagoda):

 

  • Several parking spaces may be closed in front of the property.
  • The sidewalk in front of the property may be closed. A temporary walkway will be in place around the construction zone when the sidewalk is closed.
  • Early in the morning on Monday, October 28, equipment will be delivered to the Pagoda site. This work will start around 3 a.m. and end by 6 a.m. Traffic and parking on Powell Street may be impacted. A pedestrian monitor will be on site to direct pedestrian traffic.

Planned construction (Columbus and Union):

 

  • Excavate and demolish manholes on Columbus between Union and Filbert
  • Construction hours on Columbus are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Columbus and Union):

 

 

  • On Columbus between Union and Filbert, the left lane for northbound traffic will be closed during construction hours
  • The northbound bus stop on Columbus at Union will remain open, but it will be temporarily relocated about 100 feet to the north during construction hours.

 

Central Subway Construction Fast Facts

Project Alignment: 4th Street between Berry and Market streets; Stockton Street between Market Street and Columbus Avenue; Powell Street between Union Street and Columbus Avenue; Columbus Avenue between Powell and Filbert streets.

Transit Reroutes: The southbound 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton and 91 Owl Muni bus routes have been rerouted to accommodate construction in Union Square and SoMa. These reroutes will remain in effect throughout the duration of Central Subway construction. More information is available online here.

Contact Us: Should you have questions about construction or the Central Subway Project, don't hesitate to contact our team. 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.