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Central Subway Construction Update 5/8/15

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Central Subway
Project Advancements

May 9 - May 18, 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 and Chinatown 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 continues along 4th Street from Bryant to King streets.

  • Muni manhole installations between 4th and 5th streets on Brannan and Bluxome streets
  • Muni duct bank installation on 4th Street between Welsh and Freelon streets
    • Work hours of Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Parking will be limited in work area

Northern SoMa (Market to Harrison): Excavation and construction of the station roof deck along 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets is underway.

  • Roof installation work is anticipated to transition from the west to the east side of 4th Street between Howard and Folsom streets
    • One traffic lane will be available on the west side of 4th Street
    • Night work expected for traffic reconfiguration

Union Square: Excavation of the station, relocation and supporting of utilities on Stockton Street between Ellis and Post streets are ongoing.

Chinatown: Excavation of the site and installation of the roof deck are in progress.

  • On Stockton Street
    • Between Washington and Jackson streets
      • Bus bulb demolition and street restoration with work hours of Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
      • Water line installation with work hours of Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Between Sacramento and Washington streets
      • Instrumentation installation with night work hours of Monday to Friday, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
        • Muni Impact: During night work hours of Monday to Friday, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., a bus stop for southbound 8 Bayshore, 8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton and 91 Owl on the mid-block of Stockton Street between Sacramento and Clay streets will be relocated to the north side of Sacramento Street on Stockton Street

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 Installation of a duct bank is underway on 4th Street between Freelon and Brannan streets. Southern SoMa

4th Street from Harrison Street to King Street


On 4th Street between Harrison and Bryant streets, work has finished on the portal structure. The portal is where the Central Subway cars will transition between the tunnels and the surface section of the line. All lanes are reopened to traffic.

On 4th Street between Bryant and King streets, relocation and installation of utilities continues.

Ongoing construction (Bryant to King):

  • Muni manhole installations between 4th and 5th streets on Brannan and Bluxome streets
  • Muni duct bank installation on 4th Street between Welsh and Freelon streets
  • Utility work on 4th Street between Brannan and King streets
  • Sidewalk restoration work at 4th and Bryant streets
  • Work hours are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Work may involve saw-cutting, potholing and jack-hammering in the roadway and sidewalk

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Bryant to King):

  • Parking will be unavailable in work area
  • Muni Service Impact:
    • The bus stop for the 47 Van Ness and 83X Mid-Market Express on 4th Street at Townsend Street has been relocated to Townsend Street between 4th and 5th streets
  • Two lanes on 4th Street between Bryant and King streets are available for traffic
  • Sidewalk access may be limited
  • The contractor will maintain a safe path of travel as well as access to businesses during business hours

Roof deck installation completed on the west side of 4th Street 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.

Ongoing construction (Howard to Folsom):

  • Installation of the roof deck is anticipated to transition from the west to the east side of 4th Street
  • Utility work on Folsom Street at 4th Street
    • Night work hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • Excavation of the site

Traffic and pedestrian impacts (Howard to Folsom):

  • Starting Monday, May 11, one lane will be available on the west side of 4th Street
  • Two right lanes on Folsom Street available during utility work
  • Clementina Street is closed at 4th Street
  • The sidewalk on the west side is closed

Installation of roof beams continues underground on Stockton Street at Geary Boulevard. 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. The southeast corner of Union Square Garage will be demolished to make room for the future north entrance of the Union Square/Market Street Station.

Ongoing construction (Ellis to Post):

  • Installation of roof deck
  • Utility relocation and support
  • Excavation
  • Compensation and 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):

  • O'Farrell Street has been narrowed to one lane at Stockton Street until late July
  • 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):

  • Excavation
  • Demolition of BART annex
  • Installation of roof deck beams

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Ellis Street):

  • Ellis Street is closed to through traffic between Stockton and mid-block until June
  • Sidewalk access in the area may be limited at times

 Rebar being lower onto the the future Chinatown Station. Chinatown

Stockton Street from Sacramento Street to Jackson Street

  At 933-949 Stockton Street, construction and excavation of Chinatown Station is underway.
  Ongoing construction (Sacramento to Jackson):

  • Bus bulb demolition and street restoration between Washington and Jackson streets
    • Work hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Water line installation between Washington and Jackson streets
    • Work hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Instrumentation installation continues
    • Night work hours: Monday to Friday, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • Potholing continues
    • Work hours: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Installation of the roof deck
  • Excavation of station site
    • Construction hours are Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Traffic, transit and pedestrian impacts (Sacramento to Jackson):

  • Muni Service Impacts:
    • During night work hours of Monday to Friday, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
      • A bus stop for southbound 8 Bayshore, 8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton and 91 Owl on the mid-block of Stockton Street between Sacramento and Clay streets will be relocated to the north side of Sacramento Street on Stockton Street.
    • A bus stop for southbound 8 Bayshore, 8AX/8BX Bayshore Express, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/Stockton and 91 Owl on Stockton Street between Washington and Jackson streets is relocated to the north side of Jackson Street on Stockton Street
    • The northbound mid block bus stop on Stockton between Clay and Sacramento for the 30 Stockton and 45 Union/Stockton will temporarily be relocated to north side of Clay Street from Monday, May 11 to May 15 from 9p.m. to 5a.m.
  • Parking will be unavailable in posted areas during work hours
  • Sidewalks along Stockton to remain open
  • 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.


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.