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Sunset Tunnel Weekend Construction Resumes on Feb. 26-29

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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, Feb. 26 and continue until 3:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 29. During construction, bus shuttles will substitute for the N Judah train service between Ocean Beach and Church & Duboce.

After the weekend of Feb. 26, we will have accomplished 16 weekend shutdowns to complete over 90% of the Sunset Tunnel work. The last shutdown is planned for the weekend of Mar. 4. 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 communications system upgrades have recently been accomplished in the subway between Embarcadero and West Portal. The communications work in Sunset Tunnel will require two weekend shutdowns, tentatively scheduled for the weekends of Mar. 18 and 25.

N Bus Shuttles Travel on Frederick Street:

Maximizing construction opportunities, the Transit Signal Priority (TSP) system upgrades will take place at the intersection of Carl and Cole streets and on part of Carl Street this weekend. The streets will remain open to traffic; however the bus shuttles will be rerouted from Carl Street onto Frederick Street between Cole and Stanyan streets, because the construction at the Carl and Cole intersection will make it impossible for the bus to pass. Four N Judah stops on Carl Street will be relocated this weekend.    

What to Expect during Weekend Construction at Sunset Tunnel:

  • Crews will work continuously from about 8 p.m. on 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 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 Carl and Cole and on Carl Street between Hillway and Willard streets.

  • Work hours will be 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

  • During construction, the streets will remain open; however there will be lane closures. Traffic will be slower than usual in the area.

  • During N bus service hours, the bus shuttles of both directions will be rerouted from Carl Street onto Frederick Street between Cole and Stanyan streets. Four N Judah stops will be temporarily relocated:

    • The outbound stop at Carl and Cole streets to the northwest corner of Cole and Frederick streets;
    • The outbound stop at Carl and Stanyan streets will move across Stanyan Street;
    • The inbound stop at midblock of Carl Street between Hillway and d Willard to the southwest corner of Carl and Hillway streets;
    • The inbound stop at Carl and Cole streets to the southwest corner of Frederick and Cole streets
  • 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.