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Central Subway Construction Update 10/16/15

Thank you for your interest in the Central Subway Project, which is a significant project in the history of San Francisco's public transportation network. This project is the first underground line to link the north and south corridors of the city, and will provide a direct connection to major retail, sporting and cultural venues while efficiently transporting people to jobs, educational opportunities and other amenities throughout San Francisco.

This is an exciting time as the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's | Central Subway team works to construct a vital transportation link that, when open in 2019, will improve connectivity for the city. Forms and rebar are used in the construction of a ramp in the Union Square | Market Street station Central Subway | Project Advancement

October 16 - October 26, 2015

This notice provides a construction update and a look ahead for what to expect in the areas where we are building four new stations along the alignment. You’ll find information about work activities, traffic and transportation impacts taking place over the next two weeks at SoMa, Yerba Buena|Moscone, Union Square and Chinatown.

Construction schedules, bus routes, and stop locations are subject to change due to unforeseen conditions. Signs will be posted at affected stops to advise of service changes.

Our thanks goes out to the businesses, residents, shoppers, commuters, and all those who are touched by the Project, for their continued engagement as we work to extend the city's public transportation system.

The Central Subway Team

A new AWSS line is being installed in this trench located on the west side of 4th Street Surface Station, Trackwork and Systems For the work along 4th Street between Bryant and King streets, a surface station will be built between Bryant and Brannan Streets. The construction team is working on upgrading utilities and trackwork on 4th Street between the portal at Bryant Street and the connection with the existing system at King Street.

Surveying will occur at the intersection of 4th and King Street from 11p.m. Friday, October 16 to 5a.m. Saturday, October 17.

Take note, the second phase of trackwork and transit signal priority upgrades has been scheduled for Veteran's Day Weekend 10p.m. Friday, November 6 through 4a.m. Saturday, November 14. This will be a 24 hour operation.  Details on impacts to traffic, Muni lines and pedestrians will be communicated in the near future.  The first phase of this project was completed over Labor Day Weekend.  The completion of this project will be a major milestone in the construction of the Central Subway.

The Bryant and 4th Street bus stop will be relocated 250 feet off the intersection 5 through Sunday, November 1.  The following bus lines are affected:  8 Bayshore, 8 AX Bayshore Express, 8 BX Bayshore Express, and 47 Van Ness. 

Current activities include utilities relocation, Muni manhole, duct bank, water line work from the water department, auxiliary water supply system tunnel prep work, and sewer structure modification work. A special funnel is used to direct concrete poured into a trench where utilities are upgraded
  A worker rakes asphalt over an area recently excavated, to be smoothed later.
  Overview

  • Installation of Muni manhole and duct bank
  • Utility installation
  • Installation of High pressure water line
  • Interior tunnel preparation
  • Sewer modification work
  • Surveying

Details

What: Installation of Muni manhole, duct bank, utility installation
Time: 7a.m. - 4p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: Brannan Street between 4th Street and 5th, Street, Townsend Street to King Street

What:  Low pressure water line/AWSS
Time:  7a.m. - 4p.m.
When:  Monday to Friday
Where:  4th Street and Welsh Street

What:  Tunnel interior preparation work
Time:  7a.m. - 4p.m.
When:  Monday to Friday
Where:  Tunnel portal north of the 4th and Bryant intersection

What:  Sewar modification work
Time:  7a.m. - 4p.m.
When:  Monday to Friday
Where:  Intersection of 4th Street and King Street

What:  Surveying
Time:  11p.m. - 5a.m.
When:  Friday, October 16 to Saturday, October 17
Where:  Intersection of 4th Street and King Street

  What to expect

  • Work may involve saw-cutting, potholing and jack-hammering on the roadway and sidewalk
  • Sidewalk access may be limited
  • Access will remain open for pedestrians and businesses
  • Muni Service Impact
  •  4th Street and Bryant Street bus stop relocated 250 feet off intersection affecting 8 Bayshore, 8 AX    Bayshore Express, 8 BX Bayshore Express and 47 Van Ness buslines
  • Parking will be unavailable along the work area
  • Parking and Traffic Impact
    • Parking will be unavailable along the work area
    • Eastbound lane on Bryant  Street closed  
    • Westbound lane on King closed during working hours
    • Northbound lane on 4th closed during working hours

A worker cleans the slurry walls with a high pressure hose Yerba Buena | Moscone Station

4th Street from Howard to Folsom

Work along 4th Street between Howard Street and Folsom Street consists of construction of the underground Yerba Buena | Moscone Station. The cut and cover method known as a "top-down" or "bottom-up" approach involves construction of a box frame structure within a trench excavation that is subsequently backfilled.

Current activities include utility relocation and excavation.

Please note that Howard Street between 3rd and 4th Streets will be closed from 9a.m. on Thursday, October 22 through 5p.m. Saturday, October 31 due to the Oracle OpenWorld event.   There will be re-routes in place to assist traffic flow in the area. 

 

Steel reinforcing is installed at the completion of each level of excavation

A concrete slab is being constructed inside the north end of the station structure

Overview

  • Installation of utilities
  • Excavation

Details

What: Installation of Utilities
Time: 9a.m. - 5p.m
When: Monday to Friday
Where: 4th Street and Folsom Street

What: Excavation
Time:  7a.m.-7p.m.
When:  Monday to Friday
Where: Howard  Street to Folsom Street
  What to expect

  • Clementina Street is closed at 4th Street
  • The sidewalk on the west side of 4th Street is closed
  • Parking and Traffic Impact
    • One lane of traffic open on the east side of 4th Street

Workers construct walls and shoring before pouring concrete for the outer walls of the concourse Union Square | Market Street Station

For the duration of the project, you'll see work along Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Post Street. The construction of an underground Union Square|Market Street Station uses the cut and cover method known as a "top-down" or "bottom-up" approach involves construction of a box frame structure within a trench excavation that is subsequently backfilled.

Current activities include roof deck installation, demolition of the northwest corner of the Union Square Garage, utility relocation and compensation

Single-lane traffic continues through early October on Geary at Stockton for pile installation.

A new ramp is being constructed in the southeast corner of the former Union Square Garage Welders, carpenters and other specialists work together to construction a new section of the concourse roof Overview

  • Installation of roof deck
  • Utility relocation and support
  • Excavation
  • Partial demolition of Union Square Garage
  • Rebar installation

Details

What: Roof deck, utility, excavation, rebar installation and partial demolition of Union Square Garage
Time: 7a.m.-11p.m.
When: Monday to Saturday
Where: Ellis Street to Post Street
* Construction hours may be 24 hours a day, Monday to Saturday, Sunday work may be required What to expect

  • 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.
  • Parking and Traffic Impact
    • Ellis Street is closed to through traffic between Stockton and mid-block until mid-November
    • Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Post Street is closed to vehicular traffic 

Temporary steel supports are installed inside the headhouse before excavation continues Chinatown Station The construction of an underground Chinatown Station uses the sequential excavation method (SEM) along Washington Street and Stockton Street. The SEM provides a high degree of flexibility during construction and makes it possible to control virtually all kinds of ground conditions, thereby greatly reducing the risks of construction. This method of tunnel construction is used worldwide for small to large openings in a variety of ground types ranging from rock to soil.

Sprayed concrete (shotcrete) and other supporting elements immediately after exposure, followed by installation of additional steel and shotcrete support elements until a safe stable opening is created will be used.

Current activities include utility relocation, excavation of the headhouse, and trenching and connection of dewatering wells.

  In the headhouse exterior work to waterproof the headhouse walls by utilizing drilling and grouting technology is ongoing Workers inspect construction to reinforce the station headhouse interior Overview

  • Excavation of station site
  • Trenching for dewatering wells
  • Connection of dewatering wells
  • Installation of temp bracing

Details

What: Excavation of station site
Time: 7a.m.-7p.m.
When: Monday to Saturday
Where: Stockton Street and Washington Street

What:  Trenching for dewatering wells
Time:  7a.m -5p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: Stockton Street, Sacramento Street to Jackson Street

What:  Connection of dewatering wells
Time:  7a.m -5p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: Stockton Street, Sacramento Street to Jackson Street

What:  Installation of temp bracing
Time:  7a.m -5p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: Stockton Street

  What to expect

  • Sidewalk access may be limited at times
  • Parking and Traffic Impact
    • Parking will be unavailable during PG&E work.  Curb lane parking will be limited or unavailable
    • 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.

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, or Flickr, and check out our blog.

Construction schedules are subject to change.