Street repaving and light rail track construction in an area around the St. Francis Circle will require lane closures and parking removal in coming days, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency announced Thursday.
The St. Francis Circle rail replacement project, which began mid-May, is part of the agency’s capital improvement plan that aims to repair, renew and replace vital infrastructure, transit vehicles and systems.
New tracks will mean a smoother ride on the San Francisco Municipal Railway light rail trains, which are operated by the SFMTA. The plan also includes striping new crosswalks and evening out sidewalk surfaces.
Although the SFMTA has strived to maintain normal operations during construction, the traffic closures happening between today and Tuesday are necessary while crews repave segments of Sloat and Junipero Serra boulevards in both directions.
The closures will occur between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. today, Monday and Tuesday. At least one lane in each direction will remain open on both roads, but the dedicated right turn lane from Sloat Boulevard to Junipero Serra Boulevard will remain closed.
Crews have been working seven days a week, according to the SFMTA, which operates the San Francisco Municipal Railway, to minimize the inconvenience to drivers and riders, who have been boarding K-Ingelside and M-Ocean View buses in lieu of trains during the work.
The 23-Monterey Muni bus route will be affected from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Temporary rail tracks installed on West Portal Avenue between 14th and 15th avenues will also be removed at the conclusion of the St. Francis Circle Project, which is expected to be completed by Sept. 4.
During an additional closure in that area on Sunday, parking will be removed on both sides of West Portal Avenue and on a portion of nearby Ulloa Street.
A special shuttle bus will run from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday to bridge service over the construction area.
Officers with the San Francisco Police Department will be on site to direct traffic, and local access will be provided, according to the SFMTA.
