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. 
Light shines in a small opening in the station roof slab, at the northeast corner of the Chinatown station headhouse
Central Subway | Project Advancement
January 8, 2016 - January 18, 2016
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
Workers set up trench shields to excavate an area where utility upgrades are taking place
Surface Station, Trackwork and Systems Work along 4th Street between Bryant and King Streets includes construction of a surface station between Bryant and Brannan Streets. The construction team is upgrading utilities and trackwork on 4th Street between the portal at Bryant Street and the connection with the existing system at King Street.
Current activities include utilities relocation, Muni manhole, duct bank, water line work from the water department, auxiliary water supply system (AWSS), sewer structure modification work and overhead catenary system (OCS) pole foundation work. 
A worker reviews site plans at the edge of a trench where utility work is underway
To prepare for eventual overhead catenary system installation, OCS pole foundations are being constructed on 4th Street Overview
- Installation of Muni manhole and duct bank
- Utility installation
- Installation of low pressure water line/AWSS
- Installation of 8" waterline
- OCS pole foundation work
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: Installation of low pressure waterline/AWSS
Time: 7a.m.- 4p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: 4th Street between Brannan Street and Townsend Street
What: Installation of 8" waterline (night work)
Time: 9p.m - 5a.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: 4th Street between Brannan Street and Bluxome Street
What: OCS pole foundation installation
Time: 7a.m. - 4p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: 4th Street between Bryant 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 Impact
- 4th Street and Bryant Street bus stop relocated 250 feet west of the intersection affecting 8 Bayshore, 8AX Bayshore Express, 8 BX Bayshore Express and 47 Van Ness bus lines
- Parking and Traffic Impact
- Parking will be unavailable in the work area along 4th Street
Staging and fabrication area on the east side of the headhouse site 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.
Currently, excavation is taking place.
With the mezzanine level ceiling slab finished inside the station box, work to create an access portal and excavate the station platform area has begun 
An excavator fitted with a long arm loads a dump truck with earth excavated from the station box, on the north side of Folsom west of 4th Street Overview
- Excavation
Details
What: Excavation
Time: 7a.m.-7p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: 4th Street between Howard Street and 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
- Two lanes of traffic open on the east side of 4th Street
This equipment is used to backfill the section of Stockton between Maiden Lane and Geary Union Square | Market Street Station
For the duration of the project, you'll see work along Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Post Street. 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 resume: roof deck installation, demolition of the northwest corner of the Union Square Garage, compensation and jet grouting, and utility relocation.
Utilities suspended under the steel truss lattice built during construction of the north concourse roof deck are now being upgraded and spliced in with other systems 
A worker puts the finishing touches on a future manhole opening prior to backfilling the street north of Geary Overview
- Installation of roof deck
- Utility relocation and support
- Excavation at north concourse
- Partial demolition and remodeling of Union Square Garage
- Rebar installation
- Concrete installation as roadway backfill at north and south concourses
Details
What: Roof deck, utility, excavation, rebar installation, partial demolition of Union Square Garage and concrete installation
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
- Parking and Traffic Impact
- Although Ellis Street is reopened to one lane of eastbound traffic, vehicles will not be able to turn onto Market Street as part of the Safer Market Street project. For more information, please visit https://www.sfmta.com/projects-planning/projects/safer-market-street
- Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Post Street is closed to vehicular traffic
Workers use a large steal bucket to remove material excavated from the headhouse interior 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, north access (emergency exit) shaft construction and sewer upgrades.
Temporary steel reinforcing beams called walers are installed across the inside of the Chinatown Station headhouse as excavation work progresses 
A drill rig used to allow workers to inject waterproofing grout outside the slurry walls of the station headhouse is stationed at the northeast corner Overview
- Excavation of station site
- Installation of temp bracing
- North access (emergency exit) shaft construction
- Sewer upgrades
Details
What: Excavation of station site
Time: 7a.m.-7p.m.
When: Monday to Saturday
Where: Stockton Street and Washington Street
What: Installation of temp bracing
Time: 7a.m.-7p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: Stockton Street
What: North access (emergency exit) shaft construction
Time: 7a.m.-5p.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: Stockton Street, Washington Street to Jackson Street
What: Sewer upgrades
Time: 7p.m - 5a.m.
When: Monday to Friday
Where: Stockton Street, Clay to Washington Street
What to expect
- Sidewalk access may be limited at times
- Parking and Traffic Impact
- No parking on both sides of Stockton between Washington and Jackson
- 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.