27-Month Repair and Improvement Project Along 19th Avenue Corridor To Kickoff In November

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City crews will embark on a 27-month, multi-agency project along the busy 19th Avenue corridor from Lincoln Way to Holloway Avenue to replace aging water and sewer infrastructure and install pedestrian safety measures.

Officials with San Francisco Public Works say that crews will work on the project in segments beginning next month with the first segment from Lincoln Way to Noriega Street.

Public Works spokesperson Alex Murillo said an exact date has not been set yet on when crews will start construction for the first segment of the project.

The project includes replacing or rehabilitating sewer main and water main across the stretch of 19th Avenue from Lincoln Way to Holloway Avenue and making upgrades to the Auxiliary Water Supply Service. Public Works notes on its website that not all blocks will undergo sewer main or water main work.

Public Works adds that because there is a median that runs on 19th Avenue, most blocks along the corridor have a sewer main on each side. Crews will inspect each existing sewer main to see if repairs are needed or if the sewer main needs to be replaced.

Murillo said two lanes of traffic lanes in each northbound and southbound directions will be maintained for each segment of construction.

Once crews install the new water main, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission will complete the tie-in and activation process of the new water main, which is usually performed overnight when water usage is typically low. The tie-in process will take approximately two overnight shifts for each segment. The SFPUC will notify customers of water service interruptions ahead of time, officials said.

The second segment

In addition to the sewer and water main break work, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency will install pedestrian bulb-outs at 19 intersections and 13 transit bulb-outs along 19th Avenue. Portions of 19th Avenue are part of San Francisco’s network of where there is a high rate of traffic collisions and fatalities.

The SFMTA also seeks to make improvements to the 28-19th Avenue bus route by consolidating bus stops to make transit stops more even. The 28 bus route before Covid-19 carried over 20,000 passengers each weekday, the aggennyc said.

The transit and pedestrian safety measures are part of the agency’s 28-19th Ave Rapid Project approved by the SFMTA Board of Directors back in 2015.

Once city agencies complete its portion of the project, Caltran, which has jurisdiction over 19th Avenue, will repave the three-mile stretch of the highway starting in 2023.

Residents are encouraged to sign-up for email updates on the project, including information about lane closures and upcoming work, on Public Works’ website.