SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The City has completed key infrastructure upgrades to improve traffic flow on San Francisco’s west side, ensuring smoother access for residents, commuters, and visitors. These improvements lay the groundwork for the transformation of the Great Highway into an oceanfront park, creating a new recreational space while keeping the area navigable for all. San Francisco Public Works, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission have acted swiftly to implement these critical upgrades, improving mobility and connectivity in the area.
The completed projects include:
- Sunset Boulevard Paving Renovation Project – The newly repaved Sunset Boulevard offers a smoother, safer experience for north-south travel. As the first in a series of traffic improvements in preparation for the voter-approved park, this $7.5 million roadway project, led by San Francisco Public Works, repaved all 44 blocks of Sunset Boulevard between Golden Gate Park and Lake Merced Boulevard, a key north-south corridor. In addition to paving, crews improved drainage systems at intersections to minimize localized flooding, reinforced the roadway with a new street base, added 23 new curb ramps to enhance accessibility, and installed 20 new concrete bus pads to improve transit efficiency at existing Muni stops.
- New Traffic Signal at Great Highway and Skyline Boulevard – activated by Caltrans in January, this newly installed signal improves safety and traffic flow at an intersection that previously had no signal control.
- New Traffic Signals led by SFMTA – A new traffic signal at 41st Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard is now online. A Sloat Boulevard and Skyline Boulevard signal will go live Feb.26. These signals will help improve safety and manage traffic at key Outer Sunset intersections.
“My office pushed for these vital traffic improvements when I heard new signals at 41st and Lincoln would take another two-plus years. I'm grateful for Mayor Lurie's support to help deliver these improvements in just two months. We need to apply this can-do spirit to projects throughout the city as we work to create our best San Francisco,” said Supervisor Joel Engardio, who represents the Sunset District. “Everyone can agree the west side needs better traffic flow. By replacing stop signs with traffic signals at key pain points, we can make it safer and more efficient to get people where they need to go. This translates into real quality of life improvements for everyday people.”
“The SFMTA has been working closely with our city partners to ensure that the transportation infrastructure is ready for this transition,” said Streets Director Viktoriya Wise. “We are responding to these changes by taking action now, including installing new traffic signals to prepare the streets well ahead of the shift to a new park. Our priority is to keep people moving safely and efficiently as these changes take effect, whether they are walking, biking, or driving—and we are delivering on these critical infrastructure improvements.”
In November 2024, San Francisco voters approved repurposing a 2-mile stretch of the Upper Great Highway—between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard—into a new park along the coast. The first phase of the project, opening this spring, will introduce vibrant new public amenities, including temporary art, murals, seating, enhanced trash receptacles, water fountains, signage, and year-round programming.
“This transformation is about giving San Franciscans an oceanfront park they can truly enjoy—a place where people of all ages can walk, bike, skate, and take in the beauty of the Pacific,” said Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Thanks to the hard work of our City partners, key traffic and street improvements are already making it easier for people to get here and move through the area smoothly. These upgrades help ensure that the Great Highway becomes not just a spectacular public space, but one that is well-connected and accessible to all.”
“These collaborative infrastructure improvements projects bring much-needed upgrades,” said Public Works Director Carla Short. “The critical changes we implemented provide a safer and more efficient travel experience for everyone using Sunset.”
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