Construction Update
Jan. 12-21, 2013
During the next week, construction to prepare for tunneling will continue in SoMa and Union Square. In North Beach, AT&T will be performing work to complete the relocation of telephone lines. No Central Subway construction is planned to occur in Chinatown.
For descriptions of construction impacts in each neighborhood, scroll down or click on the links below. We also post construction, traffic detour and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.
Construction impacts are planned to change at these locations by January 21:
- Southern SoMa (Harrison to King/Berry): Two lanes of traffic opening on 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant on Jan. 14
- Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Traffic impacts changing on 4th Street between Howard and Folsom. New construction commencing on 4th Street between Market and Stevenson and between Folsom and Harrison.
- North Beach: AT&T will work to complete the relocation of telephone lines that commenced last year. There will be no street excavation for this work.
At these locations, current construction impacts are planned to continue until January 21:
- Union Square: Tunnel pre-construction to continue, with partial closures of Stockton and Ellis streets in effect
- Chinatown: No construction planned
We appreciate your patience and support while we build this essential upgrade to San Francisco's public transportation system.
-The Central Subway Team 
Crews are installing deck panels to cover the tunnel launch box on 4th Street. Once the deck is complete, two lanes on this block will reopen to traffic. Southern SoMa
4th Street from Harrison to King/Berry
On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets, the contractor is constructing a major excavation known as a launch box at the site where tunneling will begin this year.
Planned construction:
- Excavate and construct access ramp at southern end of site
- Restore two lanes to vehicle traffic on Monday, Jan. 14
- Excavate launch box and install launch box supports
Traffic and pedestrian impacts:
- All lanes on this block except the easternmost lane will remain closed to all vehicle traffic until Jan. 14. The easternmost lane will remain open to vehicle traffic south of Stillman Street at all times.
- The two lanes on the east side of the street (left lanes for southbound traffic) are planned to reopen to vehicle traffic on Jan. 14.
- The on-ramp to westbound I-80 may be closed from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. on weeknights and all day Saturday and Sunday.
- The sidewalk on the west side of the block will remain closed; the sidewalk on the east side of the block will remain open
Traffic and pedestrian controls are in place. For more information on current construction impacts at this site, check out this construction notice and this blog post. 
On 4th Street between Howard and Folsom, construction of subsurface walls continued. Northern SoMa
4th Street from Market to Harrison
On 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets, the contractor is constructing below-ground walls, called headwalls, at the site of the future Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. The walls will cross 4th Street at two points on this block. For more information on construction at this site, check out this blog post.
In addition, the contractor will set up a construction zone and begin potholing for utilities at two new sites beginning Friday, Jan. 18: on 4th Street between Market and Stevenson and on 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison.
Planned construction (Market to Stevenson):
- Set up construction zone and pothole for utilities
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Market to Stevenson):
- Two lanes on the eastern side of the street (near Ross) may be closed starting Friday, Jan. 18.
Planned construction (Howard to Folsom):
- Construction of southwest and northwest headwalls
- Setup of new traffic configuration
- Construction of northeast headwall
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Howard to Folsom):
- At least two lanes of traffic on 4th Street will remain open at all times during the day. The block may be reduced to one lane on one night next week from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. to allow for the installation of a rebar cage.
- Until Friday, Jan. 18, the contractor will continue working on the western side of the block, with at least two lanes open on the eastern side of the street (left lanes for southbound traffic)
- The sidewalk on the western side of the street will be impacted until Jan. 18. Fencing and barriers are in place to designate a safe path of travel.
- Starting Saturday, Jan. 19, the contractor will begin working on the eastern side of the block, with at least two lanes open on the western side of the block (right lanes for southbound traffic).
Planned construction (Folsom to Harrison):
- Set up construction zone and pothole for utilities
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Folsom to Harrison):
- One lane on the eastern side of the street (near Pacific Bicycle and Whole Foods) may be closed starting Friday, Jan. 18.
This portion of Ellis Street was excavated this week to prepare to perform ground improvement work known as jet grouting. Union Square
Stockton Street from Market to Post
On Stockton Street between Geary and Ellis streets, the contractor is installing below-ground walls called headwalls at the site of the future Union Square/Market Street Station. In addition, ground improvement is underway on Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets.
Planned construction:
- Remove abandoned utility vaults
- Install ground improvement (jet grouting) components
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts:
- Stockton Street between Geary and Ellis is closed to all vehicles except emergency vehicles
- Ellis Street between Stockton and the Ellis-O'Farrell Garage (between Stockton and Powell) is closed to westbound traffic
- The 38/38L Geary may experience delays around Union Square
- Sidewalks on Stockton Street between Ellis and Geary will remain open, but they may be narrowed to facilitate construction
More information about construction at this site is available in this construction notice and this press release. 
This property on Washington Street is the future location of the Chinatown Station. Chinatown
Stockton Street from California to Broadway
No construction is planned to occur in Chinatown during the next 10 days. 
AT&T plans plans to splice telephone connections in a manhole in this intersection this week. North Beach
Columbus Avenue from Union to Filbert
AT&T will be performing work to complete the relocation of telephone lines that commenced in 2012.
Planned construction:
- A crew of approximately two people will be working inside manholes to splice telephone connections
- The manholes are located at the intersections of Columbus Avenue and Union Street and at Columbus Avenue and Filbert Street
- This work does not involve street excavation.
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts:
- All lanes will remain open to vehicle traffic, but traffic may be directed around the impacted manholes while work is underway
- No bus lines will be impacted
- All sidewalks and crosswalks will remain open
Central Subway Construction Fast Facts
Project Alignment: 4th Street between Berry and Market streets; Stockton Street between Market Street and Columbus Avenue; Columbus Avenue between Stockton and Filbert streets.
Transit Reroutes: The southbound 8X/8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton and 91 Owl Muni bus routes have been rerouted to accommodate construction in Union Square and SoMa. These reroutes will remain in effect throughout the duration of Central Subway construction. More information is available online here.
Contact Us: Should you have questions about construction or the Central Subway Project, don't hesitate to contact our team. 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.