San Francisco Central Subway construction begins

While construction is in full swing, the agency is still waiting for the guaranteed federal funding that will allow it to start digging. Local and national newspapers report that the construction process means a summer of traffic detours, delays and parking restrictions.

On June 12, tunnelling contractor Barnard Impregilo Healy Joint Venture began excavating and constructing a launch box at the site where tunneling will commence. Preliminary work on headwalls, 30m deep walls that will stretch across Fourth Street at the site of the Yerba Buena/Moscone Station began earlier this month.

"Crews will soon be building the first permanent components of the vital Central Subway extension of the T Third Line. This $233 million contract will create jobs and contribute to the local economy," said Edward D. Reiskin, director of transportation at SFMTA. "The launch box will become the portal where T Third Line trains will descend to the Central Subway tunnel, and the headwalls will be integrated into two new subway stations. This work kicks off an exciting new phase for this essential upgrade of San Francisco's public transportation system."