Chinatown Construction: July 30-August 9, 2026

Event Summary

As part of the Portsmouth Square project, the demolition of the Kearny Street pedestrian bridge will require the closure of Kearny Street between Clay and Washington Streets in August 2026. The work will involve both full and partial street closures to accommodate demolition activities and ensure public safety. These temporary traffic modifications are necessary to support the safe and efficient demolition of the pedestrian bridge. Please continue reading for full details on the upcoming work, including street closures, traffic detour plans, and Muni service changes.

Visit our Chinatown Transportation Updates page for more information.

On This Page:

• Event Service Map
• Street Closures
  • Traffic Detours
  • Kearny Street Partial Closure
  • Traffic Mitigations
• Muni Service Changes
• July 2026 - Fall 2027: Broadway Tunnel closures
• Regional Alternate Routes

Event Service Map

Map of planned reroute of the 8 Bayshore during two weekend street closures, August 1-2 and 8-9

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Street Closures

Kearny Street will be fully closed over two weekends. 

1:00 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2026 to 5:00 a.m. Monday, August 3, 2026 and 
1:00 a.m. Saturday, August 8, 2026 to 5:00 a.m., Monday, August 10, 2026. 

During these full closures, traffic will be redirected using designated detour routes. The detour maps show LAST viable traffic detour options before the street closure. Please use other alternate routes as early as possible to reduce congestion in the construction area. The Portsmouth Square Garage will also be CLOSED. Please use St. Mary’s Garage on 433 Kearny. Local access will be maintained for businesses on the east side of Kearny between Clay and Merchant streets.

Traffic Detours

• Detour 1: Northbound traffic on Kearny Street will be routed westbound on Sacramento Street → to northbound on Stockton Street → to eastbound on Jackson Street → to northbound Kearny Street.
• Detour 2: Northbound traffic on Kearny Street → to eastbound on Clay Street → to northbound on Sansome Street → to westbound on Washington Street →to northbound Kearny Street.

Traffic Detour Map

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Kearny Street Partial Closure

There will be a partial closure on Thursday, July 30 to Friday, July 31 and Monday, August 3 to Friday, August 7. During this time, at least two lanes will be open. The Portsmouth Square garage will be OPEN. In addition, periodic lane closures on Kearny Street for short periods may be necessary to complete demolition work.

While Kearny Street will remain open during the partial closure, motorists are encouraged to use the designated detour routes as alternate travel routes to avoid congestion. Muni service will continue operating on Kearny Street during the partial closure period with no reroutes. However, during the July 30 to 31 and August 3 to 7 weekday closure, the Muni stop on the east side of Kearny Street just north of Clay Street will be relocated to Kearny St at Commercial, southeast corner, as a temporary stop. Muni riders can also access the regular Kearny St & Jackson St stop.

Kearny Street Partial Closure – 8/8AX/8BX Bayshore Stop Changes

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Traffic Mitigations

To support safe and efficient travel for drivers, transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists, the project will employ the following mitigation measures.

• Changeable message signs directing drivers to navigate around the road closure or to use the alternative routes:
  • Kearny Street, northwest corner at Post Street
  • Kearny Street, northwest corner at California Street
  • Clay Street, northeast corner at Waverly Place
• Permanent variable message signs alerting drivers outside of the neighborhood about street closures.
• Signage near and around the construction site identifying alternative paths for pedestrian, bike and vehicle travel.
• Traffic control officers will help manage traffic impacts during the weekends and workweek.
• Construction flaggers. 
• Temporary pavement markings.
• Other traffic control devices, as needed.

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Muni Service Changes

The table below provides information on the planned service changes to the 8 Bayshore Route during all hours of service starting on Saturday, August 1, and lasting through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 2 and again on Saturday, August 8, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 9. During those two weekends, Kearny Street will be fully closed in the Portsmouth Square area, requiring a reroute of the 8 Bayshore.

Note: To receive real-time Muni service alerts via email or text, be sure to sign up through our Email and Text Subscriptions page.

The table below provides stop closure and alternate stop location information during the partial Kearny Street closures on July 30-31 and August 3-7. There will be no reroute of the 8/8AX/8BX routes during these times, but minor delays are likely due to traffic in the area.

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July 2026 - Fall 2027: Broadway Tunnel closures

The Broadway Tunnel is tentatively scheduled to be fully closed from 7 a.m., Saturday, August 15, through 5 a.m., Monday, August 17, then one traffic direction at a time will be closed for approximately 7 months each, with one lane in each direction in the open bore.

The detour maps show LAST viable traffic detour options before the street closure. Please use other alternate routes as early as possible to reduce congestion in the construction area. Refer to regional detours map. 

Local detour routes during the full tunnel closure

• Eastbound: Broadway to northbound Larkin Street, eastbound Union Street and southbound Powell Street, returning to Broadway; or Broadway to southbound Larkin Street, eastbound Pacific Avenue and northbound Powell Street, returning to Broadway.
• Westbound: Broadway to northbound Powell or Mason streets, westbound Union Street and southbound Larkin Street, returning to Broadway; or Broadway to southbound Powell Street, westbound Pacific Avenue and northbound Larkin Street, returning to Broadway.

Broadway Tunnel Full Closure - Traffic Detour Map

Local detour routes during the partial tunnel closure

Following full closure, the project will transition into an approximately seven-and-a-half-month closure of the south (eastbound) tunnel bore. During this phase, the north (westbound) bore will remain open and will be reconfigured from two westbound lanes to one lane in each direction. Afterward, the north (westbound) bore will close for approximately seven months, and the south bore will be converted to one lane in each direction.

Broadway Tunnel Partial Closure – Traffic Alternative Routing Map

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Regional Alternate Routes

For drivers traveling longer distances, several alternate routes have been identified to bypass the closure area.

• Eastbound Broadway → to Northbound Franklin Street → to Eastbound Bay Street → to Southbound Columbus Avenue → to Southbound Powell Street → to Broadway
• Eastbound Lombard Street → to Northbound Van Ness Avenue → to Eastbound Bay Street → to Southbound Columbus Avenue → to Southbound Powell Street → to Broadway
• Northbound Van Ness Avenue → to Eastbound Bush Street → to Northbound Kearny Street → to Broadway
• Northbound Van Ness Avenue → to Eastbound Bay Street → to Southbound Columbus Avenue → to Southbound Powell Street → to Broadway
• Westbound Broadway to Northbound Columbus Avenue → to Westbound Bay Street → to Southbound Van Ness Avenue → to Broadway
• Northbound Embarcadero → to Westbound Bay Street → to Southbound Van Ness Avenue → to Broadway

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