Major Gridlock Expected in SoMa and Downtown for Super Bowl LX Kickoff Events
Super Bowl LX Festivities Trigger Extensive SoMa Closures
San Francisco enters a period of significant traffic disruption today, Saturday, January 31, 2026, as the city begins hosting the Super Bowl LX Experience. Local commuters and visitors should prepare for a complete transformation of the South of Market (SoMa) district into a pedestrian-heavy event zone. The most critical impact is the full closure of Howard Street between 3rd and 4th streets, which remains in effect through February 10. Additionally, starting this morning at 7:00 a.m., 4th Street between Market and Howard streets is closed to all but local access and Muni vehicles until 11:00 p.m. daily.
Further restrictions are in place around Union Square to accommodate fan zones. Southbound travel on Stockton Street is restricted at both Post and O'Farrell streets. Motorists are advised that Ellis Street between Stockton and Cyril Magnin is limited to local access only. These closures are creating a ripple effect, with heavy congestion expected on Mission and Folsom streets as drivers seek alternative routes through the downtown core.
Great Highway and Western Addition Alerts
Residents on the west side of the city face early morning disruptions due to the San Francisco Half Marathon. Both northbound and southbound lanes of the Great Highway, between Fulton Street and Sloat Boulevard, are closed until noon today. Traffic is being diverted toward Sunset Boulevard, and drivers should expect delays near Golden Gate Park, specifically near the finish line at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Bernice Rodgers Way. If you are heading to the coast this morning, plan for significant detours through the Outer Sunset.
Freeway and Bridge Maintenance
Caltrans is continuing rehabilitation work on major arteries. On the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, lane closures on westbound I-80 between Treasure Island and Rincon Hill are expected to wrap up by 7:00 a.m. following overnight work on the Baylights Project. Meanwhile, the U.S. 101 Hospital Curve project continues to restrict shoulder space and may cause periodic lane narrowing. Commuters traveling from the South Bay should allow an extra 15 to 20 minutes for the approach into the city.
Public Transport and Muni Reroutes
Muni riders should note that the F Market & Wharves line is currently operating with a switchback at Pier 39 due to ongoing PG&E infrastructure work near Beach and Jones streets. Bus shuttles are providing connecting service to the Wharf. For those attending events at the Moscone Center or Chase Center, SFMTA has activated supplemental 78X Arena Express shuttles from the 16th Street BART station. While BART is currently reporting a return to regular service following a major system-wide recovery on Friday, commuters are encouraged to check for residual delays before heading into the Transbay Tube.