The approach of the Super Bowl means traffic headaches for San Francisco residents and visitors since streets have closed in preparation for celebrations of the big game.
Starting Saturday, city officials began closing streets around Justin Herman Plaza, where a free fan village dubbed Super Bowl City is scheduled to operate from Jan. 30 to Feb. 7, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
Affected streets will remain closed through 8 p.m. on Feb. 12 to allow time for the fan village to be dismantled, and include a section of southbound Embarcadero, Market Street between Beale and Steuart streets, Steuart Street between Market Street and Don Chee Way, and Spear and Main streets between Market and Mission streets.
Howard Street will also be closed between Third and Fourth streets during the NFL Experience event at Moscone Center, but the north sidewalk will remain open to pedestrians, SFMTA officials said.
Drivers are being encouraged to avoid the area or use alternate means of transportation, while Muni riders are being warned that the closures could affectroutes running through the area as well.
Paratransit vehicles and taxis will have designated loading zones close to the village, but private vehicles driving for ride-booking service companies such as Uber will not have access to those zones.
Bicyclists are being detoured between the Embarcadero and Market Street on Second Street via Howard or Folsom streets, and are being asked to walk their bikes on the east sidewalk in front of the Ferry Building, according to the SFMTA.
The SFMTA has a website containing information on all Super Bowl-related transportation options and street closures at https://www.sfmta.com/sb50, and the California Highway Patrol has set up a website at www.superbowl50traffic.com that is expected to include up-to-date traffic advisories.
The Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos won their respective conference championship games on Sunday and will play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Sara Gaiser, Bay City News
