FINAL UPDATE: Delay on San Bruno btwn Harkness and Wilde has cleared. IB/OB 8/8AX and 9/9R resuming regular service. (More: 12 in last 48 hours)

This page has older content

Please see Related Projects on this page for current project information. We are keeping this page as a record of SFMTA outreach.

Central Subway Construction Update 10/2/15

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. Workers cut wooden frames to construct the station box roof on Stockton Central Subway | Project Advancement

October 2 - October 12, 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 portion of the trench on 4th street awaits the installation of pipes. 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.

Please note, excavation to find underground utilities will be performed from Saturday, October 3  at 8p.m. to Sunday, October 4 at 5a.m. at the intersection of 4th Street and Townsend Street.  This work will include cutting into the pavement, so construction may be noisy at times.

The Bryant and 4th Street bus stop will be relocated 250 feet off the intersection from Monday, October 5 through Sunday, November 1.   The following bus lines are affected:  8 Bayshore, 8 AX Bayshore Express, 8 BX Bayshore Express, 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 trench marks ongoing work to upgrade a sewer line on 4th and King
  An excavator is being used to upgrade a sewer line north of King on 4th Street
  Overview

  • Installation of Muni manhole and duct bank
  • Utility installation
  • Installation of High pressure water line
  • Interior tunnel preparation
  • Excavation to install underground utilities

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:  Excavation to locate underground utilities
Time:   8p.m. to 5a.m.
When:  Saturday, October 4th through Sunday, October 5th
Where:  4th Street and Townsend 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  

A surveyor stops to record the state of the Yerba Buena | Moscone station construction 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.

Excavation of the area under Clementina Alley has now begun.  Steel cross supports called walers span the length of the headhouse during excavation 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

Corrugated steel decking marks where the roof of the new south concourse is being constructed Union Square | Market Street Station

For the duration of the project, you'll see work along Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Post Streets. 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.

An excavator operator sifts out loose material with a slotted bucket A reinforced concrete shell is being constructed around the south concourse structure 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-October
    • Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Post Street is closed to vehicular traffic 

The drill rig and utility vehicles used in the nighttime dewatering work are parked during the day 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 dewatering wells.

Dewatering wells installation on Stockton Street from Sacramento Street to Jackson Street continues through October. Excavation of the Chinatown Station  headhouse has now reached a depth where the arm of an excavator canot reach material at the bottom.  A steel bucket is being used to remove material from the interior A loader piles materials from the headhouse interior Overview

  • Excavation of station site
  • Installation of dewatering wells
  • Drilling of compensation grout holes from inside the headhouse
  • Trenching for dewatering wells

Details

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

What: Dewatering wells installation
Time: 9p.m.- 5a.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: Washington Street to Jackson Street

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

  What to expect

  • Sidewalk access may be limited at times
  • Parking and Traffic Impact
    • Detours will be in place between the hours of 9p.m.and 5a.m. during dewatering wells installation
    • Parking will be unavailable during PG&E work
    • 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.