By Christin Evans, HANC Board Member
DPW staff have been spotted on Haight street these past few weeks, taking measurements, and collecting merchant emails, getting ready to start construction work right after Labor Day. It appears that after years of planning and a delay due to lack of contractor bids, the Haight street construction project is finally set to start this month.
The two year project will adhere to the city’s dig once policy and has multiple aims. Ultimately, the “Upper Haight Transit Improvement and Pedestrian Realm Project” involves tearing up all concrete between the buildings. Both the roadway and sidewalks are scheduled to be replaced.
The first phase focuses on the replacement of aging sewer pipes. Later phases will add traffic lights to all intersections as well as the elements community groups requested: conduit for community wi-fi and pedestrian scale lights.
Funded primarily by SFMTA, the project aims to speed Muni buses down the transit corridor while ensuring pedestrian safety isn’t compromised by adding concrete bulb-outs at all intersections and at bus stops. New traffic lights will be controlled by muni buses so that buses can quickly speed through the commercial corridor.
The first phase of work is being undertaken by the city’s emergency sewer work contractor A. Ruiz Construction Co. & Associates, and began on September 4. Weekly updates are available via email and the first sent out to community members signed up to receive them detailed the first two weeks of sewer work— at the Haight and Central intersection, and also at the Haight and Masonic intersection, then heading uphill to Masonic and Waller. The work at Haight and Central is anticipated to last approximately 5 weeks, and the work going up Masonic is anticipated to last a few months. Work hours are from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Sewer work is projected to be complete by late April, while the overall project is anticipated to last two years.
To sign up to receive the weekly email updates contact Alex Murillo, Public Affairs Officer. (415) 558-5296; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.