Octavia Blvd Construction Heading Towards Phase II

by Mitchell Omerberg

Phase I of Octavia Blvd construction is approaching completion and that means Phase II is just around the corner.Phase I work was accomplished in the old freeway parking lots just east of the existing Octavia Street , which has been left mostly undisturbed.

Phase II work, which is expected to last six to seven months, calls for the closure of the ãoldä Octavia Street , with traffic being routed onto the new portions of the Boulevard. Activity will then shift onto Octavia Street , as it becomes the construction zone. The shift into Phase II will most likely begin from Page St. north to Hayes. Traffic will shift to the new portions of the Boulevard from Page to Hayes at first, but will remain on the "old" Octavia Street between Marketand Page until completion of work necessary to the complete the full shift to Phase II.Some of the Market Street center median must be removed in order for traffic to shift between Market and Page. There is also work on the Market Street F line tracks that must be accomplished, probably at the same time.

There is also a thirty day closure of Haight St. at Octavia, the first half of which will involve work in the Phase I area, with traffic still flowing on the old Octavia Street.The second half of the closure will take place after the full shift into Phase II, at which time traffic will be shifted to portions of the new boulevard along its entire length. Octavia Street traffic will continue to flow past Haight Street, first on the existing Octavia Street, then on portions of the new Boulevard, during the Haight Street closure.

As the project shifts into Phase II, the side streets that are closed just east of Octavia will be re-opened at those locations, but simultaneously closed just west of Octavia. Those Streets are Linden, Hickory , Lily and Rose, with the addition of Waller during Phase II.

For additional information visit Octaviacentral.org or call the project hotline at 554-5440.