Lane closures in San Francisco’s Sunset District slowed traffic down to a creep Saturday afternoon, with vehicles filling the one open lane on 19th Avenue as well as the Sunset Boulevard detour.
At 7 a.m. Saturday, Caltrans crews blocked two northbound lanes of 19th Avenue between Sloat Boulevard and Lincoln Way, the start of a 70-hour work period on the 19th Avenue Rehabilitation Project. The effort will eventually see the aging corridor repaved between Lincoln Way and Holloway Avenue.
One lane was left open on 19th Avenue for Muni buses, emergency responders, Caltrans crews and residents trying to access their homes or businesses. But Caltrans spokesperson Pedro Quintana said Saturday afternoon that drivers outside of those categories were clogging the lane, causing an hourlong slowdown.
“Motorists who are trying to get to Golden Gate Park or trying to get to Marin County are being brave enough to go through this lane,” Quintana said. “Traffic starts to back up when you cross over Sloat, right in the project limits area.”
Caltrans crews plans two more weekend closures for repairs along 19th Avenue – on May 8 and 22. (Caltrans)
Quintana urged drivers traveling from Interstate 280 to take the detour route on Sunset Boulevard, which runs parallel to 19th Avenue. That route was less crowded Saturday afternoon, said Caltrans spokesperson Matt O’Donnell, with about a 30-minute delay as of 1 p.m.
Parking was also restricted Saturday along the 19th area construction zones. Two more weekend closures – on May 8 and May 22 – are set to follow as the agency works to complete the restoration in a condensed time frame.
The 19th Avenue project follows last weekend’s closure of the eastbound Interstate 80 Bayshore Freeway between Fourth and 17th streets for repairs, which sent traffic snaking through surrounding surface streets downtown.
This article originally published at 19th Avenue closure backs up weekend traffic in San Francisco.