For more information on the Central Subway Project, please see our website.

Central Subway Project Manager John Funghi leads Mayor Edwin Lee on a tour of the completed tunnels

Congratulations to the Central Subway Team for achieving an Award of Merit for best transportation project of 2015 from Engineering News record, a weekly magazine highlighting the construction industry. The award was given for the completion of the Central Subway Tunnel. The Central Subway Tunnel Project was cited for completing an intricate project on time and within the approved budget.

A method called deep tunneling was used to build the tunnels. Two tunnel boring machines, named for San Francisco Legends Alma Spreckels and Dr. Margaret “Mom” Chung, were used in the construction. Use of these machines enabled the work to be finished with less surface disruptions and reduced utility relocations.

The Central Subway Tunnel completion was a major milestone for the project. When the Central Subway is completed, T Third Line trains will travel mostly underground in the 2 mile tunnels from 4th Street to Chinatown, bypassing heavy traffic on congested 4th and Stockton Streets. Our team is very proud to have been recognized by ENR for this achievement.

The Central Subway Team looks forward to more success in 2016. We wish San Francisco a very happy and healthy holiday season.

For more information on this honor see http://www.enr.com/articles/38039-airporttransit-award-of-merit-central-subway-tunnel.

Below are some photos of the project.

Former Mayor Gavin Newsom and former District 3 Supervisor David Chiu join other local dignitaries at the Central Subway groundbreaking ceremony in February, 2010

Two workers install utility conduits following the completion of new section of tunnel

The cutterheads of both tunnel boring machines can be seen following the completion of the twin tunnels of the Central Subway

Crews restore the pavement along Stockton Street between Clay and Sacramento. This follows installation of pipes and pumps for future work.

Excavation in Chinatown has reached approximately 60 feet below street level. Crews are now constructing the top of an arched structure which will lead passengers to the station platform.

If you would like to see more photos of project construction, check out our Flickr, updated weekly!

The much-appreciated plaza features a nightly light show that is projected onto the Macy’s Men’s building, featuring San Francisco landmarks and holiday themed-images.

Shoppers, pedestrians, visitors and locals of all ages can enjoy the open space, festive decorations and special seating in the plaza through the first of January.

If you would like to see more photos of project construction, check out our Flickr, updated weekly!

• Light rail vehicles for the T Third Line will be replaced by buses for the duration of this work.  These buses will not be loading passengers at the existing light rail platforms along the T Third alignment, but will instead be loading nearby.  Boarding near the Caltrain Station will be located on 3rd between King and Berry.  Please be aware of signage.  Community ambassadors will help communicate proper boarding areas.
• The E Line will be temporarily shut down.
• The N Judah will not be boarding at the Caltrain platform.  Instead, boarding for the N Judah will be located at a temporary platform constructed at 3rd and King.
• Bus shuttles will replace subway service every night after 9:30 pm

Motorists coming down the King Street offramp from I-280 will need to take a right turn at 5th and a left on Berry to travel through the area.  Once on Berry, drivers will be able to go through to 3rd Street, where they can make a right or left turn.  Vehicles traveling south on 4th Street will not be able to travel past King to Berry.  Both lanes on Berry will be converted to go eastbound between 5th and 3rd.  Motorists traveling west on King will not be affected.  Please take these temporary detours into consideration when traveling through the area.

Location of future track configuration work over the Labor Day weekend

The summer of 2015 is coming to a close with a brunch of activity! The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is focused on projects that will make transportation safer and more reliable. In addition, BART will be shutting down the Transbay Tube for weekend track repairs. And Billy Joel is in town for a concert on Saturday, September 5 at AT&T Park.

For the Central Subway project, crews will be installing track and making infrastructure upgrades at the intersection of 4^th and King Streets this Friday, Sept. 4 through Tuesday, Sept. 8. This is planned as a two phased project, with the second phase scheduled for early 2016.

Work will begin at 10p.m. Friday, September 4 and continue ‘round the clock through early morning Tuesday, September 8. Construction on Friday September 4 is anticipated to cause a significant amount of noise due to jack-hammering from 10 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday as crews break into a 16-inch thick pavement at 4^th and King to prepare for replacing tracks and switches.

The road work will impact Muni travel as well as people driving, walking and biking in the area. Here’s what to expect:

Muni Metro

• Traveling Downtown from Sunnydale:
  • Daytime: Disembark from the T Third at 4th and Berry streets. Walk to the 4^th and King platform and board the N Judah outbound
  • After 9:30pm: Disembark from the T Third at 4th and Berry streets. Walk to the 4^th and King bus stop and board the early shutdowns bus shuttle
•  Traveling to Sunnydale:
  • Daytime: Customers board the N Judah toward the Caltrain station between Van Ness Station and Embarcadero Station:
    • Disembark at the temporary platform at the mid-block crosswalk on King Street between 3^rd and 4^th streets, then
    • Connect to the southbound T Third train toward Sunnydale at 4^th and Berry streets OR
    • Customers may be dropped off at the 4^th and King Platform; then
  • Connect to the southbound T Third train toward Sunnydale at 4^th and Berry streets

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passengers can always choose to disembark at 4th Street. However, there will also be an ADA ramp at the temporary platform.

• After 9:30pm: Customers board the early shutdowns bus shuttle toward the Caltrain station
  • Disembark at the 4^th and King bus stop, then
  • Walk to the southbound T Third train toward Sunnydale at 4^th and Berry streets
• Traveling to Balboa Park:
  • Daytime: Board the N Judah outbound at the 4^th and King Platform toward downtown:
  • Disembark between Embarcadero Station and Van Ness Station, then
  • Connect to the outbound K Ingleside toward Balboa Park
• Customers waiting for the T Third Line between the Embarcadero and the 4^th and King stations should board an N Judah train
• After 9:30pm: Board the early shutdowns bus shuttle stops and transfer at St. Francis Circle for the on-surface M-Ocean View or K-Ingleside trains

Detour map for Muni Riders

Traffic

• Southeast section of 4^th and King intersection will be closed to motorists. Delays are expected
• On-ramp and off ramp to 1-280 will remain open. Motorists are to take the 6^th Street off ramp and follow detour routes.
• Motorists exiting the 4^th Street off-ramp will be detoured to 5^th and Berry
• No left turn permitted from westbound King to southbound 4^th

Reroute Map

Pedestrians and Bicyclists

• No crossing at the intersection of 4^th and King

All this construction will have a great end result. When open in 2019, the Central Subway will connect neighborhoods and provide faster and safer transportation to BART and other Muni lines. To learn more about the project visit www.centralsubwaysf.com.

This will be a two-phase project for signal installation and track enhancement. Below is the area where work will take place.

Over the Labor Day Weekend, the T Third Line rail service will still run, but Muni Metro riders are advised that through-service will not be continuous at the intersection at 4th and King, so a transfer will be necessary. Motorists traveling on I-280 northbound are advised to take the 6th Street exit due to detour at 4th & King. Check here for future updates and details.

Want to see more photos of project construction?  Check out our Flickr, updated weekly!

The twin tunnels are made up of precast concrete rings comprised of six segments, which are bolted together underground.  Next steps for the Project include installation of track and systems to get revenue service ready by 2019.

Local and network media participated in a news conference earlier this week to see the completed tunnels firsthand.

Read here for more about the event.

The video shows TBM Mom Chung breaking into the water-filled retrieval shaft last June. The water is drained from the shaft for the arrival of TBM Big Alma. The departure of the machines comes next as workers remove both TBMs, piece by piece, over several months. The retrieval shaft site was restored and vacated in January 2015.

A metal cover was installed as the final step in restoring the site.

For more information about the project and construction progress, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and check out our project website.

Mayor Lee welcomes the public to the holiday plaza and encourages people to shop locally.

Holiday activities include: a nightly light art show, carolers, live music, food trucks and promotional incentives.

The public is encouraged to check out “Winter Walk SF” and it’s nightly light art show.

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Director Ed Reiskin lists ways to get around the city – public transportation, bike, on foot and by vehicle.

More details and scheduled events can be found here.