Thank you for your interest in the Central Subway Project, which is a significant project in the history of San Francisco's public transportation network. This project is the first underground line to link the north and south corridors of the city, and will provide a direct connection to major retail, sporting and cultural venues while efficiently transporting people to jobs, educational opportunities and other amenities throughout San Francisco.
This is an exciting time as the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's | Central Subway team works to construct a vital transportation link that, when open in 2019, will improve connectivity for the city. 
A shower of sparks falls from work to remove temporary shoring and install new sections of floor decking at the north end of the Union Square/Market Street station box. Central Subway | Project Advancement
November 30 through December 9, 2018
This notice provides a construction update and a look ahead for what to expect in the areas where we are building four new stations along the alignment. You’ll find information about work activities, traffic and transportation impacts taking place over the next two weeks at SoMa, Yerba Buena/Moscone, Union Square and Chinatown.
Construction schedules, bus routes, and stop locations are subject to change due to unforeseen conditions. Signs will be posted at affected stops to advise of service changes.
Our thanks go out to the businesses, residents, shoppers, commuters, and all those who are touched by the Project, for their continued engagement as we work to extend the city's public transportation system.
The Central Subway Team
A crew cleans up at the end of a shift installing rails and rebar for track plinths in the northbound tunnel as it approaches Chinatown Station. Surface Station, Trackwork and Systems Work along 4th Street between Bryant Street and King Street includes construction of a surface station between Bryant Street and Brannan Street. The construction team is upgrading utilities and trackwork on 4th Street between the tunnel portal at Bryant Street and the connection with the existing light rail system at King Street.
Sidewalk and pavement renovation work is underway at 4th and Bryant. This work may affect vehicular and pedestrian traffic through that part of the intersection. Construction of the 4th and Brannan surface station platform is ongoing. Some lane closures may also occur at night. Regular day shift hours are from 7am to 4pm. 
Trenching work has begun to upgrade water lines at the 4th and Brannan Intersection, ahead of roadway restoration work there. 
A worker fashions sections of pipe to be installed as utility conduits inside the southbound tunnel, just north of Yerba Buena/Moscone Station. Overview
- Utility upgrade and relocation
- Night work on 4th Street between King and Bryant
- Street and sidewalk restoration
Details
What: Night utility work on 4th between King and Bryant
Time: 8 p.m. - 5:00 a.m.
When: Monday to Saturday
Where: 4th Street between King and Bryant
What: Utility installation and street restoration work
What: Street and sidewalk restoration
Time: 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
When: Monday to Saturday
Where: 4th Street between King and Bryant
What to expect
- Work may involve saw-cutting, potholing and jack-hammering on the roadway and sidewalk
- Sidewalk access may be limited
- Access will remain open for pedestrians and businesses
- Parking and Traffic Impact
- Partial lane closures on 4th Street between Townsend and King streets.
- Parking will be unavailable in the work area on both sides of 4th Street.
- Two lanes of traffic open on 4th Street, one on the east side and one on the west.
- Traffic impacts are in effect 24 hours a day.
- Muni Impact
- No scheduled impacts at this time.
Temporary scaffolding has been built to aid access for building concrete forms toward construction of the future station entrance structure at the surface of 4th Street. Yerba Buena | Moscone Station
4th Street from Howard to Folsom
Work along 4th Street between Howard Street and Folsom Street consists of construction of the underground Yerba Buena | Moscone Station. The cut and cover method involves construction of a box frame structure within a trench excavation that is subsequently backfilled.
Water main replacement work continues at night at 4th and Howard streets. Work hours are 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Eastbound traffic on Folsom may be impacted. Three through lanes are in place southbound 4th Street. Westbound traffic on Howard Street may be impacted.
Concrete formwork is being built along with a massive rebar cage, as part of preparation work to construct a ventilation structure. 
Surgical demolition work is underway to create an opening in the headhouse's west slurry wall for a future ventilation structure. Overview
- Water main replacement work at 4th and Howard
- Installation of headhouse and station interior elements
Details
What: Water main replacement work
Time: 9pm - 5am
When: Monday to Friday
Where: 4th and Howard Street intersections.
What: Installation of headhouse and station interior elements
Time: 5am - 3:30pm
When: Monday to Friday
Where: 4th Street between Howard Street and Folsom Street What to expect
- Clementina Street is closed for traffic and pedestrians through to 4th Street
- The sidewalk on the west side of 4th Street is closed south of Howard
- Parking and Traffic Impact
- Two lanes of traffic open on the east side of 4th Street, may be reduced to one lane at night between 9 pm and 5 am Monday through Friday.
- Muni Impact
- No scheduled impacts at this time
- No scheduled impacts at this time
New sections of floor slab are being constructed on the upper level of the north concourse, where future escalators will bring passengers from the platform level to the south. Union Square | Market Street Station
The construction of an underground Union Square|Market Street Station uses the cut and cover method known as a "top-down" or "bottom-up" approach and involves construction of a box frame structure within a trench excavation that is subsequently backfilled. Some work continues at night along Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Post Street.
One lane on the south side of Ellis Street is open at all times for eastbound traffic. Parking garage access is open on north side of Ellis Street. Roadway restoration work has been completed to allow for the 2018 Winter Walk. The installation of waterproofing, structural steel, and concrete at the southeast corner of the Union Square Garage continues. There will be a continued presence of vehicles and equipment as work at this location continues. Installation of internal structural elements and utilities is ongoing under Stockton Street as well as the northeast corner of Stockton and O'Farrell.
A crew positions a scissor lift at the bottom of the access shaft inside the north concourse adjacent to the Union Square Garage. 
Pedestrians cross at the north end of the 2018 Winter Walk, seen being assembled further down Stockton. Overview
- Installation of internal structural elements and temporary bracing
- Union Square Garage (north station entrance) structural installation
Details
For all activities, construction hours may be 24 hours a day, Monday to Saturday, Sunday work may be required What to expect
- Sidewalk access may be limited at times
- Parking and Traffic Impact
- Stockton Street between Ellis Street and Geary Street is closed to vehicular traffic
- Muni Impact
- No scheduled impacts at this time.
Rebar and conduit installation work for the concourse floor slab continues inside the headhouse, where future passengers will enter and exit through fare gates under this archway. Chinatown Station The construction of Chinatown Station used the sequential excavation method (SEM), providing a high degree of flexibility and control over ground conditions, thereby greatly reducing the risks of construction. This method of tunnel construction is used worldwide for small to large openings in a variety of ground types ranging from rock to soil. Excavation of the Chinatown Station site was completed in February 2018.
Current activities include construction of the north and south platform caverns, cross-cut cavern, track crossover cavern, and interior structural elements of the station headhouse. A pedestrian walkway is open on the north side of Washington connecting Trenton and Stockton. Work to build the north egress shaft on Stockton south of Jackson is underway. 
Rebar and utility conduits are being installed for the platform level slab, spanning across the width of the oval-shaped Chinatown station cavern. 
Multiple levels of completed floor slabs can be seen looking down into an access shaft inside the station headhouse. Overview
- Construction of structural elements inside the station headhouse
- Construction of the final lining for station platform and cross-cut caverns
- Construction of North Emergency Egress Shaft on Stockton Street
Details
What: Headhouse, platform cavern, and cross-cut cavern
Time: 24 hours
When: Monday to Saturday
Where: Stockton Street and Washington Street What to expect
- Sidewalk access may be limited at times
- Parking and Traffic Impact
- No parking on both sides of Stockton Street between Washington Street and Jackson Street
- One lane of traffic on both sides of Stockton Street between Washington Street and Jackson Street
- Washington Street:
- remains closed between Stockton Street and Trenton Street, except to pedestrians
- is converted into a two-way street between Powell Street and the construction zone
- Muni Impact
- No scheduled impacts at this time.
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 leave a message 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, or Flickr.
Construction schedules are subject to change.