Construction Update
October 19-28, 2013
During the next 10 days, tunneling and tunneling preparatory work will continue in SoMa, Union Square and North Beach. Work to prepare for station construction is continuing in Chinatown and northern SoMa.
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 October 28:
- Chinatown: In Chinatown, we are demolishing the building at 933-949 Stockton Street and performing utility work on Stockton between Sacramento and Jackson. Temporary partial street closures will be required along Stockton Street as utility work progresses. Parking will also be impacted, and temporary bus stop relocations will be required. We will post notification of temporary bus stop locations. The sidewalk adjacent to 933-949 Stockton will remain closed to pedestrians, and one lane of Washington Street may be closed just west of Stockton Street. Night work may be required.
- Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): One lane of 4th Street between Mission and Howard will be closed until early next week to allow for installation of monitoring equipment. On 4th Street between Howard and Folsom, the two right lanes will close to traffic starting the evening of October 18 as we begin preparatory work for station construction in the roadway To set up this traffic pattern, work hours tonight are 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The sidewalk south of Clementina will close to pedestrians during this phase of construction. On 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison, the parking lane and one lane of traffic on the east side of the street will remain closed to allow for ground improvement work.
- North Beach: On Monday, October 28, we will begin work at and near the intersection of Columbus Ave and Union Street. This work will complete the utility relocation started last year. More details are included in the North Beach section and in this flier.
Early in the morning on Tuesday, October 22, we will deliver a large crane to the Pagoda Palace site. This should take about an hour, starting around 4 a.m. Traffic on Powell Street may be impacted. A pedestrian monitor will be on site to direct pedestrian traffic.
At other times at the Pagoda, we will continue to prepare for construction of a retrieval shaft to remove two tunnel boring machines. Construction hours will usually be Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., though later work hours (until 7 p.m.) and Saturday work may be required. Parking and walkways may be impacted in front of the Pagoda Palace property.
At these locations, current construction impacts are planned to continue until
October 28:
- Southern SoMa (Harrison to King/Berry): 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant may fully close some evenings and weekends to allow for the installation of tunneling components and piping. Two lanes of traffic will remain open at all other times. Contact us at central.subway@sfmta.com if you have questions about the closure schedule. On Bryant Street at 5th Street, the left lane and several parking spaces will remain closed. One lane of the I-80 off ramp at 4th and Bryant may be closed at night to allow for utility work.
- Union Square: Stockton Street between Geary and Ellis will remain closed to vehicle traffic. Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell will remain closed to westbound traffic.
We appreciate your patience and support while we build this essential upgrade to San Francisco's public transportation system.
-The Central Subway Team 
This cart brings materials in and out of the new tunnel, where TBM Mom Chung continues digging. Southern SoMa
4th Street from Harrison to King/Berry
On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets, the contractor has constructed a major excavation known as a launch box at the site where the Central Subway tunnel begins. After assembly of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) underground, tunneling started this summer. Assembly of a second TBM (Big Alma) is now in progress, with launch expected soon.
Planned construction:
- Construct tunnel for southbound trains (TBM Mom Chung)
- Test and commission TBM Big Alma
- Tentative: Launch TBM Big Alma
- Modify water line on 4th and Bryant
Traffic and pedestrian impacts:
- The two lanes on the east side of the street (left lanes for southbound traffic) will remain open to vehicle traffic except as described below.
- The block may close to traffic 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; the sidewalk on the east side of the block will remain open.
- On Bryant Street at 5th Street, the left lane and several parking spaces will be closed.
- One lane of the I-80 off ramp at 4th and Bryant may be closed at night to allow for utility work.
Traffic and pedestrian controls are in place. For more information on construction impacts at this site, check out this blog post.
After demolishing the gas station at 4th and Folsom, crews broke up the pavement and removed it from the site in large trucks. Soon station construction will start here.
Northern SoMa
4th Street from Market to Harrison
On 4th Street between Mission and Howard, the contractor is installing instruments to monitor utilities while the tunnel boring machines pass beneath the roadway.
On 4th Street between Howard and Folsom, preparatory work to construct the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station is now in progress at the corner of 4th and Folsom, within the site of the old 76 gas station. Station construction will start soon.
On 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison, the contractor will perform ground improvements while the tunnel boring machines pass beneath the roadway.
Planned construction (Mission to Howard):
- Install instruments to monitor utilities
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Mission to Howard):
- One lane between Mission and Howard will be closed until early next week
Planned construction (Howard to Folsom):
- Remove underground gas tanks
- Drill to verify ground conditions
- Install test elements for underground wall construction
- Work hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- On Friday, October 18, night work will be in progress from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as we set up a new traffic pattern.
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Howard to Folsom):
- The two right lanes will be closed to traffic starting the evening of October 18
- The sidewalk on the west side of 4th Street between Clementina and Folsom will be closed
- Big trucks will enter and exit the 76 gas station site during work hours. Flaggers will be on site to facilitate truck entry and exit.
Planned construction (Folsom to Harrison):
- Inject grout underground to improve ground conditions
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Folsom to Harrison):
- The parking lane and one lane of traffic on the eastern side of the street (in front of Whole Foods) will be closed
Work continues on Stockton Street, the site of the future Union Square/Market Street Station. 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:
- Stockton between Ellis and O'Farrell: The current phase of construction is complete on this block. Restoration is expected to start within the next month.
- Stockton between O'Farrell and Geary: Install headwalls
- Ellis between Stockton and Powell: Perform ground improvements from inside the Ellis Street shaft
- On Stockton Street, the contractor will work from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays
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 week we started demolishing the building at the future Chinatown Station site. Demolition will take about three weeks, with station construction starting early next year. Chinatown
Stockton Street from Sacramento to Broadway
To prepare to build the Chinatown Station, contractor Tutor Perini will demolish the existing building at 933-949 Stockton Street. Preparatory construction is now underway, with demolition now in progress.
Planned construction:
- Demolish 933-949 Stockton Street
- Pothole for utilities On Stockton Street and cross streets. Work hours on Stockton are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On other streets, work will start at 7 a.m., ending at 3 p.m.
- Night work may be required some evenings next week
- Expose utilities in potholes. This work involves vacuum trucks and may be loud.
- Survey water lines on Stockton between Sacramento and Jackson
- Improve sewer lines on Stockton between Sacramento and Clay
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts:
- Several parking spaces may be closed near the intersection of Stockton and Washington, on both streets, and in the vicinity of construction zones
- One lane of Washington Street may be closed just west of Stockton Street
- The sidewalks on Stockton and Washington streets in front of 933-949 Stockton will remain closed
- The turn lane from Stockton Street onto Washington Street may be closed
- Temporary partial closures of Stockton Street may occur as utility work occurs along the street.
- The following bus stops may be temporarily relocated during construction hours: Clay at Stockton (eastbound), Stockton between Sacramento and Clay (northbound). Look for notification of temporary stop locations.
This wall, called a sound wall, will buffer construction noise during the next phase of work at the Pagoda Palace in North Beach. North Beach
Powell Street from Union to Columbus
On private property at 1731-1741 Powell Street, the contractor is preparing to construct a walled excavation known as a retrieval shaft at the site where tunneling will end. The two tunnel boring machines will be removed from the ground at this location. Demolition of the Pagoda Palace is now complete. The second phase of construction is to construct the retrieval shaft.
Near the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Union Street, the contractor will complete utility work that was started last year. Utility work is planned to begin Monday, October 28. More information is available in this flier.
Planned construction (Pagoda):
- Prepare site for retrieval shaft construction
- Construct pit for soil mixing
- Relocate fire hydrant in front of 1731-1741 Powell
- Mobilize equipment for retrieval shaft construction (tentative date: October 28)
- While preparing to build the retrieval shaft, planned construction hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., though later work hours (until 7 p.m.) and Saturday work may be necessary at times.
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Pagoda):
- Several parking spaces may be closed in front of the property during construction hours.
- The sidewalk in front of the property may be closed. A temporary walkway will be in place around the construction zone when the sidewalk is closed.
Planned construction (Columbus and Union):
- All work and construction impacts described below is planned to begin Monday, October 28
- Excavate manholes on Columbus between Union and Filbert
- Construction hours on Columbus are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Columbus and Union):
- On Columbus between Union and Filbert, the left lane for northbound traffic will be closed during construction hours
- The northbound bus stop on Columbus at Union will be closed during construction hours
- The westbound bus stop on Union at Columbus may be relocated about 100 feet to the east of its regular location
Central Subway Construction Fast Facts
Project Alignment: 4th Street between Berry and Market streets; Stockton Street between Market Street and Columbus Avenue; Powell Street between Union Street and Columbus Avenue; Columbus Avenue between Powell 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.