Opinion: My concerns about negative impact of road constructions to traffic and communities in SF’s Chinatown and Sunset

I am very concerned about how San Francisco city agencies monitor their issued work permits.

In San Francisco Chinatown:

At the intersection of Grant Avenue and Jackson Street (in front of Citibank), there has been ongoing sidewalk construction. According to the posted permit, the approved work period was October 13 to November 7, 2025. However, the work was never completed on time, and as of today, November 25, the construction is still continuing with no clear timeline for completion.

What is even more confusing? When I checked the Permit / Complaint Tracking System online, the permit appears to have been suspended back in September 2025. If the permit was suspended, how was the contractor still allowed to remove parking spaces and continue the sidewalk project?

The City issued a No Stopping permit for October 13 to November 7, yet the work area is still blocked even though the permit period has expired.

Why is the construction still allowed to remain in place without any enforcement or challenge?

City agencies should have the responsibility and authority to monitor all the work under city-issued permits. Projects that exceed their permitted timelines should not be allowed to continue without proper inspection, review, and accountability.

This type of delay affects nearby merchants, seniors, and residents. A clear monitoring and enforcement process is necessary to ensure that contractors follow the rules and complete their work on schedule.

In Sunset District:

The 19th Avenue is a major transportation corridor — not just for Sunset and Richmond residents on the west side, but for the entire region. As a key segment of Highway 1, it connects the Peninsula and South Bay to Marin and the North Bay. It is one of San Francisco’s most congested bottlenecks and serves as a critical lifeline for commuters, families, students, and businesses.

Since the closure of the Great Highway, the importance of 19th Avenue has increased even more. With the loss of that roadway, traffic pressure now concentrates entirely on 19th Avenue. Reducing 19th Avenue to a single through-traffic lane, while also carrying the busy 29 Sunset bus line, will only make congestion significantly worse.

What is the City's plan?

If the City proceeds with lane reductions or parking removal on 19th Avenue, the consequences will be serious:

● Cars will flood into Sunset residential streets, causing more traffic, noise, and safety hazards.

● Congestion will become even more severe, creating dangerous conditions for pedestrians and seniors.

● People will start avoiding the Sunset because of the traffic, which will hurt small businesses.

● Removing parking on the 19th will push even more cars into side streets and residential blocks, increasing frustration and reducing quality of life.

19th Avenue is already overloaded. Before making any lane reductions or major changes, the City must clearly explain how traffic will be City must clearly explain how traffic will be managed, how safety will be protected, and how Sunset merchants and residents will be supported.

This is not just a neighborhood issue — it affects the entire regional corridor of Highway 1.

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Ed Siu is the Founder and Chairman of both the Chinatown Merchants United Association of San Francisco and Sunset Merchants United Association of San Francisco. Both associations were established in 2020 and 2023 respectively with a mission to serve and support merchants in the neighborhoods.