PRESS RELEASE - Hillside Stabilization Work to Necessitate Temporary Closure of O'Shaughnessy Blvd 10/21-22

For immediate release: Oct. 18, 2017

Contact: Rachel Gordon, 415-554-6045 

HILLSIDE STABILIZATION WORK TO NECESSITATE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF O’SHAUGHNESSY BOULEVARD ON THE WEEKEND OF OCT. 21-22

Through Traffic, Including Muni, Will Be Detoured; Local Access Will Be Permitted

San Francisco, CA – O’Shaughnessy Boulevard will be closed temporarily to through traffic on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Sunday, Oct. 22, while crews work to stabilize the adjacent hillside to protect against rockslides.

A small rockslide forced the brief closure of O’Shaughnessy Boulevard last January. The rocky slope is situated on the west side of O’Shaughnessy, across from Glen Canyon Park. Geotechnical engineers and geologists were brought in to assess the undeveloped hillside for potential rockslides and recommended that loose rocks near the top be knocked away in a controlled manner.

A recent assessment found that one boulder remains in danger of sliding down the hill and needs to be removed before the winter rains. Public Works will perform a more permanent hillside restoration next spring. 

Crews will begin mobilizing in the area on Friday, Oct. 20. However, the road closure won’t take effect until Saturday morning. The work will require crews to knock any loose rock off of the hillside and remove the large boulder. The goal is to have the road reopened by Sunday evening.

Local access will be retained from Portola Drive to Del Vale Avenue and from Bosworth Street to Malta Court. The stretch between Malta and Del Vale streets temporarily will be off limits to motorists, pedestrians and cyclists, from 7 a.m. Saturday through 7 p.m. Sunday. Traffic, including Muni’s No. 44-O’Shaughnessy line, will be detoured.

Public Works is working closely with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees traffic and transit operations in the City, to minimize disruptions during this essential public safety project. 

Public Works contracted with Soil Engineering Construction, Inc. to perform this phase of the technical hillside work.

About San Francisco Public Works: The 24/7 City agency cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and nurtures City-maintained street trees; designs, constructs and maintains City-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; builds curb ramps; eradicates graffiti; partners with neighborhoods; trains people for jobs; greens the right of way; and educates our communities.

###