UPDATE: The Transit Signal Priority (TSP) upgrades at the intersection of Judah and 18th Avenue scheduled for this weekend has been canceled due to the rainy weather. The intersection will remain open to traffic of all directions. No traffic reroute is necessary. The tunnel work and bus substitution service will continue as planned.
As part of the Sunset Tunnel Trackway Improvement Project, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will resume weekend construction on the Sunset Tunnel. The work will start at 8 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 4 and continue until 3:30 a.m. on Monday, Mar. 7. During construction, bus shuttles will substitute for the N Judah train service between Ocean Beach and Church & Duboce. The work will take place rain or shine in order for us to get the job done as quickly as possible.
After the weekend of Mar. 4, we will have accomplished 17 weekend shutdowns. It will be the last weekend shutdown for the Sunset Tunnel Trackway Improvement Project. However, as part of the subway communications system improvements, the SFMTA will upgrade the blue light emergency telephone and radio systems inside Sunset Tunnel. The work will require two weekend shutdowns, tentatively scheduled for the weekends of Mar. 18 and 25. The communications system upgrades have recently been accomplished in the subway between Embarcadero and West Portal.
Maximizing construction opportunities, the Transit Signal Priority (TSP) system upgrades will take place at the intersection of Judah Street and 18th Avenue this weekend. During this work, the westbound lanes at the intersection will be closed for vehicular traffic, only allowing the Muni bus to pass through. The westbound traffic on Judah Street will be rerouted, turning right on 17th Avenue, left on Irving Street, left on 20th Avenue and right on Judah. The intersection will remain open for the eastbound traffic. The N Judah boarding platforms served by bus shuttles will move to the curbside.
What to Expect during Weekend Construction at Sunset Tunnel:
- Crews will work continuously from about 8 p.m. Friday until 3:30 a.m. on Monday.
- Noise control measures will be implemented; however the work will be audible throughout the weekend.
- The streets near the tunnel entrances will remain open.
- To accommodate the tunnel work, parking restrictions will become effective before the work starts on both sides of Duboce Avenue from Steiner to Scott Street, and on both sides of Carl Street from Clayton to Cole Street.
Weekend Bus Substitution Service:
- While Sunset Tunnel is closed for construction, bus shuttles will substitute for the N Judah rail service between Ocean Beach and Church & Duboce during service hours from about 7 p.m. on Friday until end of service at 1 a.m. on Monday.
- Regular N Judah trains will continue to provide service between Church & Duboce and 4th and King streets.
- The N Judah stops at Church & Duboce will provide a transfer point between bus shuttles and trains for Muni customers.
- The first outbound stop west of the tunnel is located on Carl and Cole streets.
- The weekend N Judah Owl bus service will not be affected.
- Bus arrival predictions will be available on NextMuni for the N bus service.
Other Ongoing N Judah System Improvement Projects:
The SFMTA has integrated multiple construction components under the Sunset Tunnel project in order to minimize the inconveniences for both N Judah riders and the community around the construction area.
The Transit Signal Priority (TSP) system upgrades are taking place at nine intersections sequentially along the N Judah Line. This weekend, crews will be installing underground cables and conduits for traffic signals at the intersection of Judah and 18th Avenue.
- Work hours will be 8 to 10 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
- During construction, the vehicular traffic will be diverted.
- Bus shuttles will stop at the curbside next to the regular N Judah stop.
- Street parking at construction site will be temporarily unavailable.
- Driveway access will be maintained.
- There will be noise during excavation of the sidewalk and roadway.
The TSP system will use technology to reduce dwell time at traffic signals for Muni light rail vehicles by holding green lights longer.
The construction of the wheelchair accessible platforms on Judah and 28th Avenue was successfully completed in late March 2015. The westbound and eastbound stops are now in service for the N Judah customers.
The new platforms include longer boarding islands and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant curb ramps, making Muni Metro system safer and easier to use for all customers.