Central Subway
Project Advancements
March 7 - March 16, 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.
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 on 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets.
- One traffic lane is anticipated to reopen on 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets on Wednesday, March 11
- The bus stop for the 47 Van Ness and 83X Mid-Market Express on 4th Street at Townsend Street is anticipated to be relocated on Friday, March 13, to Townsend Street between 4th and 5th streets
Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Excavation and construction of station roof along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets. Ongoing ground improvement activities at 4th and Jessie streets.
- 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets is anticipated to reduce to one traffic lane March 9 and 10
- Utility work on Folsom Street at 4th Street
- Two traffic lanes available on Folsom Street during construction hours of 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Union Square: Excavation of the station, relocation and supporting of utilities on Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets.
Chinatown: Excavation of the site and installation of the station roof.
- Monitoring equipment installation on sidewalks along Stockton Street from Washington to Sacramento streets
- Sidewalks to remain open
- Work the week of March 9 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sewer upgrade on Stockton Street between Washington and Jackson streets
- Parking lanes on both sides of Stockton Street will be used for travel lanes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
North Beach: Completion of work in front of 1731-1741 Powell Street is anticipated by mid-March. Hours of work are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. A lane of traffic will be available on Powell Street.
- San Francisco Water Department is relocating a fire hydrant
- Night work anticipated on Monday, March 9
- Sidewalk restoration is slated for completion by mid-March after hydrant relocation
- Street light installation may start in late March
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 
An escavator prepares the roadway on 4th Street between Brannan and Townsend streets for sewer upgrades. 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):
- Waterline installation
- Potholing
- Sidewalk restoration
- Portal construction
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Harrison to Bryant):
- On Wednesday, March 11, one lane of traffic is anticipated to reopen on 4th Street
- 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
- Sidewalk access on the east side of the block may be limited
- If necessary, a designated reroute will be indicated
- The sidewalk on the west side of the block will remain closed
Ongoing construction (Bryant to King):
- Sewer work on 4th Street between Brannan and Townsend streets
- Utility work on 4th Street between Brannan and Bluxome streets
- Pile installation on 4th Street between Welsh and Brannan streets
- Vault work including street and sidewalk restoration at 4th and Bryant streets
- Work may involve saw-cutting, potholing and jack-hammering in the roadway and sidewalk
- Work hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Bryant to King):
- Muni Service Impact:
- The bus stop for the 47 Van Ness and 83X Mid-Market Express on 4th Street at Townsend Street is anticipated to be relocated on Friday, March 13, to Townsend Street between 4th and 5th streets
- During work hours, two traffic lanes will remain open on 4th Street from Bryant to Townsend streets
- Parking on 4th Street from Bryant to Townsend will be used as traffic lanes during the construction
- Sidewalk access may be limited
- The contractor will maintain a safe path of travel as well as access to businesses during business hours
Workers lift and relocate a large trench shield as work continues on the excavation of the site at 4th and Folsom streets.
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. Station walls have been completed. Excavation of the site is ongoing.
Ongoing construction (Howard to Folsom):
- Removal of roadway bridge anticipated March 9 and 10
- Sheet pile shoring
- Utility work on Folsom Street at 4th Street
- Night work hours of 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Excavation of the site
- Installation of the roof slab
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Howard to Folsom):
- Two lanes of traffic on 4th Street are open
- An additional lane of traffic may be used March 9 and 10 during roadway bridge removal
- Two right lanes on Folsom Street available during utility work
- Street closure of Clementina Street at 4th Street
- The sidewalk on the west side is closed
On 4th Street between Folsom and Harrison streets, roadway restoration is slated for completion by Friday, March 13.
Ongoing construction (Folsom to Harrison):
- Restoration of the roadway
- Work hours: 7 a.m. to 5 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 water line and sewer line work
- Parking may be impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone
On 4th Street between Market and Mission streets, ground improvement activities and repair of utility lines continues. This work will occur seven days a week.
Ongoing construction (Market to Mission):
- Replacement of utility lines and ground improvements
- Work hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Market to Mission):
- Two traffic lanes will remain open on the east side
- An additional traffic lane may be used for ground improvement activities
- Parking is impacted in the vicinity of the construction zone
An overhead shot of Stockton Street at Ellis Street where work to excavate the future Union Square/Market Street Station continues. Union Square
Stockton Street from Ellis Street to Post Street
On Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets, the contractor is excavating and installing the roof slab for the Union Square/Market Street Station.
Ongoing construction (Ellis to Post):
- Utility relocation and support
- Excavation
- Jet grouting
- 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 discontinued until further notice
- Board bus on Geary Boulevard at Powell Street
Ongoing construction (Ellis Street):
- Relocation of utilities
- Excavation
- Demolition of BART annex
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Ellis Street):
- Ellis Street is closed to through traffic between Stockton and mid-block until the end of March
- Sidewalk access in the area may be limited at times
Workers use tools to expose rebar as they remove concrete from the tops of wall sections. The exposed rebar will be attached to additional rebar to reinforce the soon-to-be-installed roof slab. Chinatown
Stockton Street from Sacramento Street to Washington Street
At 933-949 Stockton Street, construction and excavation of Chinatown Station is underway.
Ongoing construction (Washington to Jackson):
- Sewer upgrade
- Construction hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Washington to Jackson):
- Parking lanes on Stockton Street will be used for traffic lanes during sewer work
Ongoing construction (Sacramento to Washington):
- Monitoring equipment installation on sidewalks along both sides of Stockton Street
- Work the week of March 9 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Waterproofing and installation of the station roof
- Excavation of station site
- Construction hours are Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Sacramento to Washington):
- Sidewalks along Stockton to remain open during monitoring installation
- 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.
Muni Service Impacts: The bus stop for the 47 Van Ness and 83X Mid-Market Express on 4th Street at Townsend Street is anticipated to be relocated on Friday, March 13, to Townsend Street between 4th and 5th streets.
The bus stop for the 38 Geary Route on Geary Boulevard at Stockton Street is discontinued until further notice. 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.