People walk along the Great Highway in San Francisco on Feb. 14, 2024. As of Friday morning, the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard is closed to vehicle traffic — a move that drew backlash from some westside residents. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)
A two-mile section of San Francisco’s oceanfront Great Highway has closed permanently to vehicle traffic, setting it up for a transformation into park space that voters approved last year.
As of 5 a.m., Friday, the closure took effect on the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard. City crews will work to clear sand — regular maintenance work that has often forced the windblown commuter corridor to close. Traffic improvements will also continue, and public art will be installed.
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The new park is planning a grand opening celebration for April 12. It still needs a name, though. Anyone can submit suggestions through Sunday, and the final choice will be unveiled on April 10.
The transformation has drawn considerable backlash from westside residents, including a last-ditch lawsuit filed this week to block the closure and a recall effort targeting the local member of the Board of Supervisors.
A San Francisco park ranger closes the gate prohibiting vehicles on the Great Highway between Sloat Boulevard and Lincoln Way in San Francisco on Nov. 15, 2024. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)
For more on how we got here, check out past coverage from KQED reporters:
The number of workers holding down more than one job hit a record high in February’s job report. A look at what this tells us about the labor market and what it means for employment.
