As Phase Two of the Muni Metro Escalator Rehabilitation Project. the escalators at north entrance of Castro Station and at south of Hallidie Plaza of Powell Station have been under construction since May 2016. The work is expected to be completed in Mid-October. Immediately after the finish date, construction will begin on the outbound escalator leading to the platform at the east end of Powell Street Station. At the same time work will begin on the inbound escalator leading to the platform at Castro Station. The two escalators will be out of service for about five months. The station elevators will provide service to the customers who have difficulty walking up the stairs.
The escalator rehabilitation project has two phases. Phase One that replaced five escalators at Church, Powell and Van Ness stations was completed in 2014. Phase Two of the project that started in November 2015 will rehabilitate 17 escalators at Montgomery, Powell, Hallidie Plaza, Civic Center, Van Ness, Church and Castro.
To maintain service, only one escalator per station and two escalators total will be taken out of service (two different stations with one escalator each being replaced). The rehab work takes as long as five months because each escalator is custom-designed and custom-built.
The staging area adjacent to the job site will be clearly marked and safely barricaded. A wooden barricade will be built over the escalator being serviced to ensure the safety for Muni customers as well as construction workers.