Major SoMa Closures and Bay Bridge Lane Reductions Expected Today

Super Bowl Festivities Drive Heavy SoMa Congestion

Commuters heading into downtown San Francisco this Wednesday, February 4, 2026, should prepare for significant travel disruptions as the city hosts the Super Bowl Experience at the Moscone Center. Major thoroughfares in the South of Market (SoMa) and Union Square areas are currently under rolling street closures and traffic detours. Specifically, Howard Street remains fully closed to vehicle traffic between 3rd and 4th Streets. Drivers can expect heavy congestion on Mission and 4th Streets as well, as these routes are serving as primary detours for the event hubs.

SFMTA and local authorities are urging residents to avoid driving in the SoMa district if possible. For those who must drive, be aware that special event parking rates are in effect near the Moscone Center and Chase Center, with meters charging up to $12 per hour to discourage circling and reduce gridlock. Work on the Transbay Howard Streetscape Project is also contributing to intermittent lane reductions between The Embarcadero and 4th Street from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Roadwork Alerts: Bay Bridge and 19th Avenue

Caltrans has scheduled critical maintenance today that will impact the morning and early afternoon commute on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. On Eastbound I-80, the far-left lane (Lane 1) leading to the Yerba Buena Island Tunnel is scheduled for closure from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This maintenance work is expected to cause bottlenecking at the bridge entrance, and motorists should allow for at least 20 to 30 minutes of additional travel time.

On the west side of the city, the multi-month rehabilitation of 19th Avenue (State Route 1) continues. Crews are active between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., resulting in localized lane shifts and delays through the Sunset District. Commuters are advised to use Park Presidio or Sunset Boulevard as alternative north-south routes to avoid the construction zone.

Public Transit: Extra Service and New Connectivity

To help manage the influx of visitors for the Super Bowl festivities, the SFMTA is running extra S Shuttle service in the Muni Metro subway. These additional trains will operate on Market Street between West Portal and Embarcadero stations from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. tonight. This is intended to alleviate crowding as fans head toward the downtown fan zones.

BART riders can take advantage of the newly launched free Wi-Fi network at five high-traffic stations: Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, Civic Center, and San Francisco International Airport. While transit remains the most reliable way to navigate the city today, BART passengers should note that train control modernization work may cause up to 30-minute delays on the Peninsula line after 9:00 p.m. Additionally, the Capitol Corridor continues to operate on a reduced schedule due to equipment availability, so check your specific train status before heading to the platform.

Key Alerts for Wednesday, February 4:

• Howard Street: Full closure between 3rd and 4th Streets for Super Bowl Experience.
• Bay Bridge (EB-80): Lane 1 closed near Yerba Buena Tunnel (7 a.m. – 2 p.m.).
• 19th Avenue: Ongoing repaving and lane shifts (7 a.m. – 4 p.m.).
• Muni Metro: Extra S Shuttle service starting at 3 p.m.
• Webster Tube: One lane closed until 12:00 p.m. following overnight maintenance.