San Francisco Public Works maintains more than 900 miles of streets comprising more than 12,900 street segments or blocks. Streets provide mobility for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Public transportation and the movement of goods and services are made possible with a system of well-maintained streets.
The Public Works Street Resurfacing Program maintains City streets through various curb to curb street resurfacing techniques, such as grinding and paving and pavement preservation. Street surfaces must be routinely maintained, renewed and resurfaced to extend the service life of the pavement by applying a proper treatment type at different stages of the pavement life - "It's right road, right treatment, right time, for the right price."
Street segments are systematically identified for treatment. Coordination with utility companies, and partner City agencies assist in programming street segment candidates across San Francisco.
The Public Works Street Resurfacing Program is dedicated to keeping the streets in good condition for all users, and to make improvements strategically and efficiently to ensure smoother and longer-lasting streets to support the City’s multi-modal transportation system.
Check out this interactive map to learn about paving projects in your neighborhood:
NOTE FOR MAP ABOVE: All Public Works Street Resurfacing Program candidates are subject to substitution and schedule changes pending available funding, visual confirmation, utility clearances and coordination with other agencies and are NOT guaranteed to be moved forward to construction. Unforeseen challenges, such as increased work scope, changing priorities, cost increases or declining revenue may arise, causing the Public Works Street Resurfacing Program candidates to be postponed or dropped from consideration.
Street Resurfacing Treatments
Micro-surfacing Pavement Preservation - Micro-surfacing is a street resurfacing technique that is applied to the existing street surface. Micro-surfacing preserves the asphalt pavement by protecting the surface from the effects of natural aging and the environment. Micro-surfacing can extend the life of pavement at a fraction of the cost versus other resurfacing techniques by rejuvenating the wearing surface of a street and sealing the surface off to moisture. More information on the Micro-surfacing Program.
Grinding and Paving - Grinding and paving is a street resurfacing technique used on streets which have deteriorated past the point of micro-surfacing or other pavement preservation techniques The grinding and paving technique is typically performed by first removing (grinding) off two inches of the existing asphalt “black top” surface and then replacing it with two inches of new asphalt along the whole street segment.
Full Street Reconstruction - Full street construction is when a street segment will be fully replaced. Reconstruction of the street involves a complete removal and replacement of the existing pavement surface and the concrete street base followed by installation of new concrete base and street surface.
Report a Pothole
San Francisco Public Works strives to provide World Class Service. Reporting a pothole is easy. Visit the 311 website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Public Works Determine Which Streets To Schedule For Resurfacing Work?
The Public Works Street Resurfacing Program uses the following factors when considering projects for resurfacing:
Pavement Condition Index (PCI) Score - Projects consider the PCI Score of the street; the PCI Score is an overall rating of road conditions on a scale from 0-100, with zero being a pothole-riddled crumbling street and 100 being a newly surfaced street. PCI information is available by street segment at this website.
Multi-modal routes - Projects consider the use of the street such as, transit routes, bicycle routes, vehicular routes and/or a combination of these routes. Other agencies are collaborated with to determine how the routes are selected and prioritized.
Project Readiness and Coordination with Utility Companies and City Agencies - Project readiness is primarily dependent upon utility “clearances”. If a resurfacing project is being coordinated with another agency, the project is reliant upon the schedule of each varied element, with resurfacing usually taking place in the last phase of work.
Equitable Distribution Across the City - Geographic equity is monitored to ensure that resurfacing projects are distributed to all neighborhoods and commercial districts of the City by utilizing several funding sources and many projects over several years.
Inquiries - When the Public Works receives inquiries from the public regarding resurfacing issues, engineers investigate, evaluate and provide recommendations. If the street is found to be in need of resurfacing and meets requirements for resurfacing, it is checked against the 5 Year Excavation Plan for opportunities or potential conflicts with other agencies (clearances). Based on the clearances, it is planned for resurfacing accordingly.
Funding - Project planning is based on projections of funding on an annual basis. The projections are very dynamic and can change at any time. The availability of funding at the time of implementation must be considered when planning and prioritizing projects.
Once all factors have been considered, the City can determine the type of treatment needed and an estimated schedule for resurfacing.
Why Are Some Streets Receiving Street Maintenance, But Appear To Be In Really Good Condition?
Proper maintenance is what makes your car, house and street last long. If a street is resurfaced while still in relatively good condition, the street will continue to function properly for many years. It is important to protect the City’s investment in the street system and maintain streets before they deteriorate beyond simple repair. Streets requiring full reconstruction are extremely expensive.
How Will Public Works Let Citizens Know What Is Going On With Street Repairs?
Public Works acknowledges street resurfacing projects can affect your neighborhood and commute. If a street resurfacing project is occurring on your street, construction crews will place "no-parking" signs on the affected block at least 72-hours in advance of work. The "no parking" signs will alert motorists of the street closure and will indicate the specific date(s) and times the work will occur.
