Project Advancements
October 18 - October 27, 2014
During the next 10 days, Central Subway work continues at sites in SoMa, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach. This section contains brief updates about recent construction activities and a look-ahead for what to expect in each neighborhood. 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.
Check out the new project construction video on YouTube posted here.
Construction schedules may change due to unforeseen conditions. We encourage the public to follow all traffic and pedestrian notifications posted at the work sites.
Southern SoMa (Harrison to King): Construction crews are relocating and installing new utilities along 4th Street from Harrison to King streets.
- At the intersection of 4th and Harrison streets, work on utilities is scheduled to start Monday, Oct. 20.
- Two traffic lanes will remain open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Access to Interstate 80 freeway may be limited on some evenings between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- On 4th Street between Bryant and Brannan streets, installation of a sewer line continues.Two traffic lanes will remain open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Construction crews are building walls and replacing a water line along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets.
- Tentative: Along 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison streets, sewer line replacement to start Oct. 28.
Union Square: Construction crews are excavating the site, building station walls and relocating utilities on Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Maiden Lane.
Chinatown: Construction crews are building station walls and installing new utilities on Stockton Street between Sacramento and Washington streets.
North Beach: Construction crews continue to restore the retrieval shaft site.
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 
On Welsh Street at 4th Street, work continues on an installation of a sewer manhole. The future 4th and Brannan Station is a portion of the extension of the T Third Line that will provide direct connections to major retail, sporting and cultural venues. Southern SoMa
4th Street from Harrison Street to King Street
On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets, the contractor constructed a major excavation known as a launch box at the site where the two Central Subway tunnels begin. Underground operations are based here.
On 4th Street between Bryant and King streets, relocation and installation of utilities continues.
Ongoing construction (Harrison to Bryant):
- Utility work is scheduled to start Monday, Oct. 20 at intersection of 4th and Harrison streets.
- Preparations to construct portal.
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Harrison to Bryant)
- At the intersection of 4th and Harrison streets:
- Two traffic lanes will remain open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Access to Interstate 80 freeway may be limited on some evenings between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Parking may be impacted in the vicinity of the construction area.
- The two lanes on the east side of 4th Street will remain open to vehicle traffic except as described below:
- Possibility of full closure of block from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. on weeknights and all day Saturday and Sunday.
- The sidewalk on the west side of the block will remain closed.
Ongoing construction (Bryant to King):
- Sewer line installation on 4th Street between Bryant and Brannan streets.
- Sewer manhole work on Freelon and Welsh streets at 4th Street.
- Sewer installation on Bryant Street between 5th and Zoe streets.
- Installation of AT&T duct bank and vaults on 4th Street between Bryant and Bluxome streets.
- Work may involve saw-cutting and jack-hammering in the roadway and sidewalk. Expect an increase in noise.
- Work hours will be Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Bryant to King):
- During work hours, two traffic lanes will remain open on 4th Street from Bryant to Brannan streets.
- Parking may be impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone.
- Sidewalk access may be limited. The contractor will maintain a safe path of travel.
- The contractor will maintain access to businesses during business hours.
Along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets, crews work on building underground station walls. The future Yerba Buena/Moscone Station will help decrease surface congestion by providing an access point to make connections with the current Muni lines, Bart, and Caltrain.
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. The construction of underground station walls and replacement of a water line is ongoing. Night work continues from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday.
On 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison streets, work on replacement of a sewer line is anticipated to begin Oct. 28.
Ongoing construction (Howard to Folsom):
- Construction of station walls.
- Replacement of water line at 4th and Folsom streets.
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Howard to Folsom):
- One lane of traffic will remain open on 4th Street from Howard to Folsom streets.
- Street closure of Clementina Street at 4th Street.
- The sidewalk along 4th Street between Clementina and Folsom streets is closed.
- Lane reductions at intersection of Folsom and 4th streets during water line work.
Ongoing construction (Folsom to Harrison)
- Anticipated work: replacement of a sewer line starting Oct. 28.
- Work hours will be 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Folsom to Harrison)
- Two traffic lanes will remain open on 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison streets during sewer line work.
On Stockton Street between Geary Boulevard and O'Farrell Street, steel I-beams are prepared for the Union Square/Market Street Station. These I-beams will form a part of the station walls and carry a portion of the weight of Stockton Street. Union Square
Stockton Street from Ellis Street to Post Street
On Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets, the contractor is building the Union Square/Market Street Station. Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Geary Boulevard is closed to vehicular traffic.
On Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets, crews continue with pile installation to construct station walls.
Ongoing construction (Ellis to Post):
- Pile installation to construct station walls includes overnight work on Stockton Street at Geary Boulevard and O'Farrell Street.
- Utility relocation and pile installation on Stockton Street between Geary Boulevard and Maiden Lane.
- Construction hours may be 24 hours a day, Monday to Saturday, Sunday work may be required.
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Ellis to Post):
- Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Geary Boulevard is closed to vehicular traffic.
- The sidewalk on the northeast corner of Stockton Street at O'Farrell Street will be closed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. through late November.
- Expect traffic at this intersection to merge to one lane.
- At Stockton Street and Geary Boulevard, expect traffic to merge to one lane.
- Muni service impact: The bus stop on Geary Boulevard at Stockton Street will be temporarily closed until mid-November. Board bus on Geary Boulevard at Powell Street.
Ongoing construction (Ellis Street):
- Pile installation to construct station walls.
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Ellis Street):
- Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets is temporarily closed to westbound traffic heading toward Powell Street.
The crews are using a hydromill at this location to dig out station walls for the future Chinatown Station. Chinatown
Stockton Street from Sacramento Street to Washington Street
At 933-949 Stockton Street, construction of Chinatown Station is underway.
Ongoing construction: (Sacramento to Washington)
- Construction of station walls.
- Installation of high pressure waterline on Stockton Street between Sacramento and Clay streets.
- Construction hours are Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Rebar delivery between the hours of 4 and 6 a.m.
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts: (Sacramento to Washington)
- Parking lanes on both sides of Stockton Street at Sacramento Street may close during construction hours.
- Washington Street:
- Between Stockton and Trenton streets remains closed.
- Between Powell Street and the construction zone is converted into a two-way street.
At 1731-1741 Powell Street, both tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and their trailing gear have been cleared from the area. The work is now focused on restoring this site. North Beach
Powell Street from Union Street to Filbert Street
At 1731-1741 Powell, restoration of the site continues.The work at this location is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
On Columbus Avenue between Union and Filbert streets, street lighting will be completed by the end of 2014.
Ongoing construction (1731-1741 Powell):
- Restoration of the site.
- Contractor may work up to 2 a.m., Monday to Friday with occasional weekend work.
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (1731-1741 Powell):
- Several parking spaces may be unavailable in front of the construction area.
Ongoing construction (Union to Filbert):
- Sewer cleaning.
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Union to Filbert):
- Partial lane closures on Columbus Avenue in the vicinity of the work zone.
- Metered parking spaces may be unavailable in the work area. Parking notifications will be posted.
Connecting People. Connecting Communities.
Muni Service Impacts: The bus stop for the 38 Geary Route on Geary Boulevard at Stockton Street is temporarily closed until mid-November. Board bus on Geary Boulevard at Powell Street.
Contact Us: If you have questions about construction or the Central Subway Project you can reach us at central.subway@sfmta.com or by phone 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.