ATTN: IB 15 & 54 blocked along Kirkwood by #SFFD activity. IB 15 & 54 will reroute via Ingalls. Stops btwn Ingalls and Donahue will be missed. (More: 19 in last 48 hours)

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Central Subway Construction Update 4/17/15

April 18 - April 27, 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 Bryant to King streets.

  • On 4th Street between Bryant and Welsh streets
    • Water line installation with work hours of Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
      • Parking will be limited during work hours
  • Portal construction completed
    • All traffic lanes have reopened
    • The contractor is removing equipment from the work site until mid-May

Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Excavation and construction of station roof along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets are underway. Ongoing utility restoration activity 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.

  • O'Farrell Street will be narrowed to one lane at Stockton Street until early July.

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

  • On Stockton Street between Washington and Jackson streets
    • Removal and replacement of water line with work hours of Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
      • Parking will be limited during work hours
  • On Stockton Street between Sacramento and Jackson streets
    • Instrumentation installation with night work hours of Monday to Friday, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
      • Parking will be limited during work hours
  • Muni Service Impact:
    • On Monday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the southbound bus stop for the 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton and 45 Union/Stockton on the mid-block of Stockton Street between Sacramento and Clay streets will be temporarily relocated to the north side of Clay Street on Stockton Street

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

The crew install a duct bank after opening a trench on 4th Street
between Bluxome and Townsend streets.

Southern SoMa

4th Street from Harrison Street to King Street

On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets, the contractor finished work on the portal structure. The portal is where the Central Subway cars will enter/exit the roadway from the tunnels below. All lanes are reopened to traffic. The contractor will continue with demobilization work in this location until mid-May.

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

Ongoing construction (Bryant to King):

  • Water line installation on 4th Street between Bryant and Welsh streets
  • Sewer work on 4th Street between Brannan and King streets
  • Utility work on 4th Street between Brannan and Bluxome streets
  • Sidewalk 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
  • Two 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


Excavation and rebar work continues on the future Yerba Buena/Moscone Station.

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
    • Anticipated work hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Market to Mission):

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


The crew prepares the site at Ellis and Stockton streets to become a key connector between the current Powell Street Station and the  future 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. Portions of Union Square Garage will be demolished.

Ongoing construction (Ellis to Post):

  • Installation of roof deck
  • Utility relocation and support
  • Excavation
  • Compensation and 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):

  • O'Farrell Street will be narrowed to one lane at Stockton Street until early July
  • 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):

  • 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 June
  • Sidewalk access in the area may be limited at times

 Rebar work continues 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):

  • Removal and replacement of water line between Washington and Jackson streets
    • Work hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Instrumentation installation
    • Night work hours: Monday to Friday, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • Potholing continues along Stockton Street
    • Work hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • 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):

  • Muni Service Impacts:
    • On Monday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the southbound bus stop for the 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton and 45 Union/Stockton on the mid-block of Stockton Street between Sacramento and Clay streets will be temporarily relocated to the north side of Clay Street on Stockton Street
    • A bus stop for southbound 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton and 91 Owl on Stockton Street between Washington and Jackson streets is relocated to the north side of Jackson Street on Stockton Street
  • Parking Impact:
    • Will be unavailable during water line work Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • May be limited during the instrumentation installation
    • 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: On Monday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the southbound bus stop for the 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton and 45 Union/Stockton on the mid-block of Stockton between Sacramento and Clay streets will be temporarily relocated to north side of Clay Street on Stockton Street.

A bus stop for southbound 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton and 91 Owl on Stockton Street between Washington and Jackson streets is relocated to the north side of Jackson Street on Stockton Street.

The bus stop for the 47 Van Ness and 83X Mid-Market Express on 4th Street at Townsend Street is 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.