Central Subway
Project Advancements
January 10, 2015 - January 19, 2015
This section contains brief updates about recent construction activities and a look-ahead for what to expect in Southern SoMa, Northern SoMa, Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach over the next two weeks. For more detailed information, scroll down or click on the links below. You can also find construction, traffic detour, and Muni impact information on our project Google Map.
Check out our new video which highlights 2014 Central Subway milestones and progress.
Construction schedules may change due to unforeseen conditions. We encourage the public to follow traffic and pedestrian notifications posted at the work sites.
Southern SoMa (Harrison to King): Utility work along 4th Street from Harrison to King streets. Portal construction continues on 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets.
- Tentative pile installation starting week of Jan. 19 on 4th Street between Freelon and Brannan streets
- Sewer work on 4th Street between Freelon and Bluxome streets
Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Excavation of the station along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets. Repair of utility lines at 4th and Jessie streets.
- Two lanes on the east side of 4th Street are open between Market and Mission streets
Union Square: Construction has resumed on Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets. Crews are excavating the site and relocating utilities.
- Ellis Street at Stockton Street is closed to vehicular traffic
- Stockton Street between Geary Boulevard and Post Street is closed to vehicular traffic
Chinatown: Construction crews are demobilizing equipment and excavating the site in preparation for the installation of the station roof. Ongoing utility installation at Stockton and Washington streets.
- Night work: removal of heavy equipment is anticipated early morning of Jan. 12 between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.
North Beach: Restoration of the retrieval shaft site is complete. The North Beach section of the weekly update will be phased out next week due to the completion of our work at that site.
We thank the businesses, residents, shoppers, and commuters of San Francisco for their continued engagement with this significant investment in the extension of our public transportation system. When opened in 2019, the Central Subway will provide a much-needed connection between major employment, retail, cultural and residential areas of the city.
The Central Subway Team 
Workers install an AT&T vault at 4th and Bryant streets.
Southern SoMa
4th Street from Harrison Street to King Street
On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets, the contractor excavated a launch box at the site where the two Central Subway tunnels begin. This site is being converted to a portal.
On 4th Street between Bryant and King streets, relocation and installation of utilities continues.
Ongoing construction (Harrison to Bryant):
- High pressure waterline installation
- Portal construction
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Harrison to Bryant):
- At the intersection of 4th and Harrison streets:
- Two traffic lanes will remain open on Harrison Street, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Access to I-80 freeway may be limited on some evenings from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and during weekends
- Parking may be impacted in the vicinity of the construction area
- On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets:
- Full closure until late February 2015.
- Perry and Stillman streets between 3rd and 4th streets are temporarily converted to two-way alleys
- Perry and Stillman streets are accessible from 3rd Street
- Parking on the south side of Stillman Street is impacted Monday to Friday, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and on weekends
- Sidewalk access on the east side of the block may be limited. The contractor will maintain a safe path of travel
- The sidewalk on the west side of the block will remain closed
- Full closure until late February 2015.
Ongoing construction (Bryant to King):
- Tentative pile installation starting week of Jan. 19 on 4th Street between Freelon and Brannan streets
- AT&T vault installation at 4th and Bryant streets
- Sewer work on 4th Street between Freelon and Bluxome streets
- Work may involve saw-cutting and jack-hammering in the roadway and sidewalk
- Expect an increase in noise
- Work hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Bryant to King):
- During work hours, two traffic lanes will remain open on 4th Street from Bryant to Bluxome streets
- Parking may be impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone
- Sidewalk access may be limited
- The contractor will maintain a safe path of travel
- The contractor will maintain access to businesses during business hours
Two workers use a hydromill to build walls for the future Yerba Buena/Moscone Station.
Northern SoMa
4th Street from Market Street to Harrison Street
On 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets, work to construct the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station continues. Excavation of the site is ongoing. Night work hours have been reduced but may still be necessary at times.
Ongoing construction (Howard to Folsom):
- Building of walls
- Excavation of the site
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Howard to Folsom):
- Two lanes of traffic are open on 4th Street from Howard to Folsom streets
- Street closure of Clementina Street at 4th Street
- The sidewalk along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets is closed
On 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison streets, replacement of a sewer line is to be completed by mid-January.
Ongoing construction (Folsom to Harrison):
- Replacement of a sewer line
- Work hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Folsom to Harrison):
- Two traffic lanes will remain open
- Access to the I-80 freeway may be reduced to one lane during sewer line work
- Parking may be impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone
On 4th Street between Market and Mission streets, work on repairing utility lines is ongoing.
Ongoing construction (Market to Mission):
- Replacement of utility lines
- Work hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Market to Mission):
- Two traffic lanes will remain open on the east side
- Parking is impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone
Construction has resumed for the Union Square/Market Street Station. Union Square
Stockton Street from Ellis Street to Post Street
On Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets, the contractor is building the Union Square/Market Street Station.
Ongoing construction (Ellis to Post):
- Installation of site barriers
- Utility relocation
- Excavation of the site
- Construction hours may be 24 hours a day, Monday to Saturday, Sunday work may be required
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Ellis to Post):
- Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets is closed to vehicular traffic
- Local deliveries may access Maiden Lane from Post Street
- Sidewalk access may be limited at times
- Muni service impact:
- The bus stop for the 38 Geary Route on Geary Boulevard at Stockton Street is temporarily closed
- Board bus on Geary Boulevard at Powell Street
Ongoing construction (Ellis Street):
- Excavation of the site
- Relocation of utilities
- Installation of sheet piles
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Ellis Street):
- Ellis Street between Stockton and Powell streets is partially closed to vehicular traffic
- Sidewalk access may be limited at times
At Stockton and Washington streets, a worker accesses an area to inspect work on a waterline replacement.
Chinatown
Stockton Street from Sacramento Street to Washington Street
At 933-949 Stockton Street, construction and excavation of Chinatown Station is underway.
Ongoing construction (Sacramento to Washington):
- Demobilization of station wall equipment
- Night work anticipated early morning of Jan. 12 from midnight until 6 a.m.
- Excavation of station site
- Construction hours are Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Replacement of a high pressure water line and installation of a fire hydrant on Washington Street between Stockton and Spofford streets
- Construction hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Sacramento to Washington):
- Washington Street:
- Remains closed between Stockton and Trenton streets
- Is converted into a two-way street between Powell Street and the construction zone
- Parking may be limited during construction hours between Stockton and Spofford streets
A metal roof deck has been placed over the North Beach site.
North Beach
Powell Street from Union Street to Filbert Street
We have finished restoring the site at 1731-1741 Powell Street.
- Due to the completion of the work, the North Beach section of the weekly update will be phased out next week
On Columbus Avenue between Union and Filbert streets, street lighting will be completed by mid-January.
Connecting People. Connecting Communities.
Muni Service Impacts: The bus stop for the 38 Geary Route on Geary Boulevard at Stockton Street is temporarily closed. Board bus on Geary Boulevard at Powell Street.
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, Instagram or Flickr, and check out our blog.
Construction schedules are subject to change.