SFPUC has begun construction to upgrade water and sewer pipelines along the 2-mile Geary Blvd. corridor in Richmond District

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has begun a major infrastructure project along the 2-mile Geary Boulevard corridor in the Richmond District to modernize the water and sewer pipelines. An extensive outreach program has been in place to minimize the impacts of construction on residents and merchants. 

The construction began in January 2025 and will last until 2026. Approximately 1.4 miles of sewer mains and 6.7 miles of water mains will be replaced or rehabilitated in the Geary Boulevard Sewer and Water Improvements project, according to the SFPUC.

The site for the construction focuses on the 2-mile long Geary Boulevard in the Richmond District from Stanyan Street to 32nd Avenue.

In late 2026, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will join the project to add above-ground pedestrian safety and bus improvements along the Geary Boulevard to make it safer and easier for people to drive and take public transit.

While many of the water and sewer pipes in Richmond District were installed in the late 1800s, it has been for over 120 years. SFPUC said it was time for a modern upgrade to ensure residents and businesses have clean, reliable drinking water and flushing toilets for the next century.

The Geary Boulevard project is split into two segments, Segment A for 32nd Avenue to 12th Avenue and Segment B for 12th Avenue to Stanyan Street. The construction work began in Segment A.

Parking spaces are removed and lanes for vehicles are closed during construction hours. Some merchants said their business has been affected with up to 25% loss if parkings are restricted.

"No parking, no business," said an owner of a barbershop who did not want his name to be published. He said parking spaces were very crucial to all businesses. Once the meter parking in front of his store was removed amid the construction, his customers were also gone.

"I would rather support the City's project to upgrade our water and sewer system," said Lien, owner of ML Donuts and coffee shop on Geary Boulevard. "It is great to see the City modernizing the system to prevent any possible flooding in the future. We have been told about the construction and ways to file claims if we face losses in our business."

"By tackling this $50 million sewer and water project all at once, we aim to minimize community disruptions while making the upgrades the Richmond District needs for reliable water and sewer service," said Sarah Peters from the Communication Department of SFPUC. "We are committed to supporting local merchants throughout construction."

The SFPUC has continued to provide regular project updates through webpage (sfpuc.gov/geary) and email alerts to keep merchants and the community informed about progress and help them plan for upcoming short-term construction impacts.

Monthly small business working group meetings are held to share project updates, gather feedback, and support merchants, Peters said. Meeting details and presentations are also available at sfpuc.gov/geary.

In order to minimize construction and parking impacts on residents and merchants, four separate crews would work on different blocks along the corridor - one block at a time, Peters said. Each crew typically works on a block for about a week on weekdays only, with work ending by 5 p.m. each day to reopen parking on the affected block.

To support merchants, the SFPUC has shortened the standard 72-hour parking restriction to 24 hours whenever possible, helping to keep more parking available for longer periods.

The SFPUC has developed plans to promote local businesses across social media, place shop-local ads in community papers, produce in-store signage for merchants to display, reinforce that businesses are open during construction, and encourage residents to shop local and support Geary businesses.

Peters said the SFPUC would survey over 200 merchants to gather feedback and guide future outreach efforts. She encouraged merchants with questions or concerns about construction impacts to connect with the SFPUC through the Small Business Working Group or by sending emails to GearyUpgrades@sfwater.org, or by phone at (415) 554-3258.

Questions about claims are encouraged to contact the City Attorney's Office. Related claim information can be found at sfcityattorney.org/claims.