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Central Subway Construction Update 3/27/15

Central Subway
Project Advancements

March 28 - April 6, 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 continues along 4th Street from Harrison to King streets. Ongoing 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 are underway. Ongoing ground improvement activities at 4th and Jessie streets.

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

  • Night work on Geary Boulevard and Stockton Street from March 29 to April 2
    • Geary Boulevard between Grant Avenue and Powell Street is closed to through traffic during work hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
    • Muni Service Impact:
      • Outbound 38 Geary Route between Kearny and Mason streets rerouted during night work hours
      • Bus stops on Geary Boulevard at Kearny and at Powell streets will not be in use during detoured hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
        • Use alternate bus stops at Market and Montgomery streets or Geary Boulevard and Taylor Street

Chinatown: Excavation of the site and installation of the station roof are in progress.

  • Potholing along Stockton Street between Sacramento and Jackson streets
    • Parking will be unavailable during work hours Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

North Beach: Completion of sidewalk restoration, streetlight work and demobilization of equipment in front of 1731-1741 Powell Street anticipated by March 28. Hours of work are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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 Under 4th Street near the intersection with Harrison Street, workers are constructing
a permanent tunnel entrance. 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.

Ongoing construction (Harrison to Bryant):

  • Water and sewer line installation
  • Potholing
  • Sidewalk restoration
  • Portal construction

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Harrison to Bryant):

  • One lane of traffic is open
  • At the intersection of 4th and Bryant:
    • The left lane on the I-80 freeway off-ramp may be closed during potholing and pipe installations
  • 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
  • Sidewalk access on the east side of the block may be limited, a designated reroute will be posted to direct pedestrians
  • The sidewalk on the west side of the block will remain closed

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

Ongoing construction (Bryant to King):

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

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Bryant to King):

  • Muni Service Impact:
    • The bus stop for the 47 Van Ness and 83X Mid-Market Express on 4th Street at Townsend Street has been relocated to Townsend Street between 4th and 5th streets
  • Outer lanes on 4th Street between Bryant and King streets are available for traffic
  • Sidewalk access may be limited
  • The contractor will maintain a safe path of travel as well as access to businesses during business hours


Workers pour concrete to resurface the roadway on 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison 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. 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 the roof slab

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Howard to Folsom):

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

On 4th Street between Market and Mission streets, utility restoration activities continue. This work will occur seven days a week.

Ongoing construction (Market to Mission):

  • Replacement of utility lines
    • Work hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

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


Workers have now removed the roof of the former Ellis Street entrance to Powell Station. This passage will be tied in with the future mezzanine of the Union Square/Market Street Station. Union Square

Stockton Street from Ellis Street to Post Street

On Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets, the contractor is excavating and installing the roof slab for the Union Square/Market Street Station. Union Square Garage is being demolished.

Ongoing construction (Geary Boulevard):

  • Potholing between Stockton and Powell streets
  • Night work hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. March 29 to April 2

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Geary Boulevard):

  • During night work, Geary Boulevard is closed to through traffic between Grant Avenue and Powell Street
  • Muni Service Impact:
    • Outbound 38 Geary between Kearny and Mason streets rerouted during night work hours
    • Bus stops on Geary Boulevard at Kearny and at Powell streets will not be in use during detoured hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
      • Use alternate bus stops at Market and Montgomery streets or Geary Boulevard and Taylor Street

Ongoing construction (Ellis to Post):

  • Utility relocation and support
  • Excavation
  • Jet grouting
  • 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
  • Demolition of BART annex
  • Installation of roof deck beams

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Ellis Street):

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

 A carpenter drills into the side of a wall at the future Chinatown Station. Chinatown

Stockton Street from Sacramento Street to Jackson Street

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

  • Potholing along Stockton Street
    • Work hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Monitoring equipment installation on sidewalks along both sides of Stockton Street
    • Work hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Waterproofing and installation of the station roof
  • Excavation of station site
    • Construction hours are Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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

  • Parking will be unavailable during potholing work Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Sidewalks along Stockton to remain open
  • 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 outbound 38 Geary Route between Kearny and Mason streets is rerouted during night work hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. March 29 to April 2.

  • Bus stops on Geary Boulevard at Kearny and at Powell streets will not be in use during detour
  • Use alternate bus stops at Market and Montgomery streets or Geary Boulevard and Taylor Street

The bus stop for the 47 Van Ness and 83X Mid-Market Express on 4th Street at Townsend Street has been relocated to Townsend Street between 4th and 5th streets.

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.