Milestones reached in project to strengthen essential infrastructure for Richmond District

From SFPUC:

For the past eight months, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has been replacing century-old water and sewer pipes along Geary Boulevard between 32nd Avenue and Stanyan Street. This critical upgrade will help ensure that Richmond District homes and businesses continue to receive safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater service for generations to come.

With support from the SFPUC’s San Francisco Water Division, contractor Cratus, Inc. has worked quickly and efficiently to minimize disruption for residents. Their efforts have kept the project moving ahead of schedule during the construction.

Upgrades Move Forward Between 32nd and 12th Avenue

Work along Geary Boulevard from 32nd to 12th Avenue – known as Segment A – has made major progress. We’ve completed sewer upgrades that required open-cut construction, where crews dig trenches along the street to install new underground sewer pipes. This work has included installing vitrified clay pipes – made strong and corrosion-resistant by high heat – for the sewer mains, the big pipes in the street that carry wastewater to the treatment plant. We also replaced the lower sections of sewer laterals that connect each property to the sewer main.

Water system upgrades have also been moving quickly. Crews have finished installing a 16-inch transmission pipeline on the south side of Geary Boulevard, which carries large volumes of water between key points in the water system, and an 8-inch distribution pipeline on both sides of the street to deliver water directly to homes and businesses. Over the next few months, crews will continue to test, disinfect, and connect the new pipes. That process has been completed for many new pipes, which are already in service.   

Work has begun on installing fiber-optic conduits along the north side of Geary Boulevard. These conduits will house cables to support future San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) upgrades that will make bus service safer and more efficient. The SFPUC and SFMTA are coordinating this underground work as part of the City’s “Dig Once” approach. This means crews will stay in the area to complete all planned sewer, water, and transit-related work in sequence, which helps avoid repeated major construction in the coming years.  

Street restoration is also underway. On the south side of Geary Boulevard, crews have completed about 75% of the concrete street base, the foundation layer under the asphalt. Once the base work is finished, crews will restore the curbs, gutters, and parking strips. Temporary paving will go on top of this concrete base until the final paving is installed. The final paving will take place as part of a separate SFMTA project, after completion of the surface level work. That work is expected to begin in late 2026 and will improve transit and safety along the corridor.

Work Begins from 12th Avenue to Stanyan Street

With significant progress made in the first phase, crews moved into Segment B in July, ahead of schedule. Segment B is the second half of the project, from 12th Avenue to Stanyan Street along Geary Boulevard. At the intersection of 8th Avenue and Geary, crews built a new sewer junction structure, an underground concrete structure that connects pipelines and helps direct flow through the system. Similar structures have also been completed at the 6th and 7th Avenue intersections. New large diameter reinforced concrete pipe has also been installed between these new junction structures. With this sewer work well underway, crews will soon begin installing water pipelines in Segment B.

This marks another important step forward in upgrading the Richmond District’s infrastructure. These projects are funded by your ratepayer dollars, making needed investments in essential water and sewer services for the community. Learn more at sfpuc.gov/rates.

Shop, Dine, and Enjoy Geary Boulevard

Geary Boulevard’s small businesses are working with the SFPUC to help reduce construction impacts. Show them some extra love – grab a bite, shop for something special, or enjoy local entertainment during construction. Shop local. Support Geary businesses.

What to Expect During Construction

Parking: Street parking will be temporarily restricted in the project area during construction hours. “No Parking” signs will be posted 24 hours in advance at metered spaces and 72 hours in advance in non-metered spaces. Please see posted signs for exact workdays, hours, and locations.
Traffic: Lane closures in the project area are necessary to ensure safety of workers and the public. 
Access: Businesses and residents will maintain access to their entrances and driveways, with possible temporary delays. 
Noise: Neighbors should expect some noise, dust, and vibrations. The contractor will abide by the city’s noise, dust, and vibration ordinances, and the SFPUC is independently monitoring noise and vibration levels to ensure compliance. 
Night Work: To avoid disrupting water service for merchants along the Geary corridor, City crews will perform some night work to connect water services to the new pipelines, ensuring minimal impact on businesses operating during daytime hours. 
Muni: Bus stops in active work zones may be temporarily relocated, with signs posted.

Stay Informed

To see the weekly lookahead schedule and sign up for project updates, visit sfpuc.gov/Geary. For questions or comments, contact GearyUpgrades@sfwater.org or (415) 554-3258.