Van Ness Avenue Construction Forecast: November 6 - November 17, 2017
The following Van Ness Improvement Project construction forecast is subject to change. For more project details, please visit sfmta.com/vanness.
Lane Shifts on Van Ness:
As of Thursday, November 2 southbound lanes of Van Ness between Sutter and McAllister shifted to the center of the roadway.
Starting Wednesday, November 15 northbound traffic will shift to the center of the roadway between Jackson and Lombard.
The traffic shift will maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction during construction while also providing a safe working zone. Those driving on Van Ness will notice that the lanes shift to the center of the roadway and lanes traveling in the same direction will separate to go around existing median trees in order to preserve them through construction.
Overnight Temporary Bus Stop Shifts
In order to install temporary bus loading platforms, some bus stops will shift overnight from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Signs will direct riders to the temporary stop. Southbound and eastbound stops at Van Ness and Union will shift from Friday, November 10, through Monday, November 13. Northbound stops at Jackson, Vallejo and Union streets with shift overnight on Wednesday, November 15.
Why shift traffic?
Crews need to replace the 1800s-era water and sewer systems beneath Van Ness Avenue. This will reduce their vulnerability to damage from earthquakes and minimize potential service outages. Portions of the emergency firefighting water system that supplies more than 1,200 fire hydrants through San Francisco will also be overhauled and new street and sidewalk lighting will also be installed.
Currently, these aging water systems are located in the center of Van Ness, but will be replaced on the outer edges of the street to ease maintenance and safety in the decades to come.
What to Expect
Utility work zones will be located on the western side of Van Ness Avenue between Sutter and McAllister, and the eastern side of Van Ness Avenue between Jackson and Lombard. Along with the traffic lane shifts, parking will be temporarily eliminated in the two utility construction zones, preserving parking opposite the construction zone when possible.
Each of the work areas will occupy one side of the street, approximately five feet from the building line on Van Ness to the center of the roadway. Sidewalk widths will be reduced to no less than five feet adjacent to the two construction zones, and access for people walking will be maintained on both sides of Van Ness Avenue.
In preparation for the upcoming traffic changes, blue zone parking for people with disabilities, loading zones and street furniture such as newspaper stands, bus shelters, bike racks and trash cans have been temporarily relocated.
At times this work requires reducing Van Ness Avenue to one lane in a direction, limiting work to nighttime hours. Construction teams will notify neighbors in advance of night work and will be taking measures to reduce nighttime noise.
Tentative Schedule:
Monday, November 6, through Tuesday, November 7: Crews will be surveying sidewalks, marking utilities and installing tree protection from McAllister to Sutter streets. Duct banks to power overhead wires for buses will be installed in joint trenches from McAllister to Golden Gate. Temporary striping in the medians and tree protection will occur form Washington to Lombard.
Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. New lanes will be marked between Washington and Lombard. Neighbors are advised to anticipate construction-related noise, including grinding, as crews work diligently to complete this necessary night work.
Wednesday, November 8, through Thursday, November 9: Crews will be sawcutting to remove roadway in the construction zone, surveying sidewalks, marking utilities, and installing tree protection from McAllister to Sutter streets. Duct banks to power overhead wires for buses will be installed in joint trenches from McAllister to Golden Gate. Temporary striping in the median and tree protection will occur from Washington to Lombard. New traffic lanes will be marked from Green to Lombard.
Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. New lanes will be marked between Green and Lombard. Neighbors are advised to anticipate construction-related noise, including grinding, as crews work diligently to complete this necessary night work.
Friday, November 10: Crews will be sawcutting to remove roadway in the construction zone, surveying sidewalks, marking utilities and installing tree protection from McAllister to Sutter streets. Duct banks to power overhead wires for buses will be installed in joint trenches from McAllister to Golden Gate. Temporary striping in the median and tree protection will occur from Washington to Lombard. Newtraffic lanes will be marked from Green to Lombard.
Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. New lanes will be marked between Green and Lombard. Neighbors are advised to anticipate construction-related noise, including grinding, as crews work diligently to complete this necessary night work. A temporary traffic signal will be installed at Van Ness and Greenwich.
Monday, November 13, through Thursday, November 16: Crews will be sawcutting to remove roadway in the construction zone, surveying sidewalks, marking utilities, and installing tree protection from McAllister to Sutter streets. Duct banks to power overhead wires for buses will be installed in joint trenches from McAllister to Golden Gate. Temporary striping in the median and tree protection will occur from Washington to Lombard. New lanes will be marked from Green to Lombard.
Between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. New lanes will be marked between Washington and Lombard. Neighbors are advised to anticipate construction-related noise, including grinding, as crews work diligently to complete this necessary night work.
Friday, November 17: Crews will be sawcutting to remove roadway in the construction zone, surveying sidewalks, marking utilities, and installing tree protection from McAllister to Sutter streets. Duct banks to power overhead wires for buses will be installed in joint trenches from McAllister to Golden Gate. Temporary striping in the median and tree protection will occur form Washington to Lombard. New lanes will be marked from Green to Lombard.