Super Bowl LX Closures and Warriors Home Game Trigger Major SoMa Delays

Super Bowl LX Prep Begins with Major Road Closures

Commuters in San Francisco should prepare for a significant shift in traffic patterns starting today, Friday, January 30, 2026. As the city begins its final preparations for Super Bowl LX, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has initiated a series of major street closures in the South of Market (SoMa) district. Starting at 6:00 a.m. this morning, Howard Street is closed to through traffic between 3rd and 4th streets. Additionally, motorists will find the western-most travel and parking lanes on 3rd Street restricted between Harrison and Stevenson streets. Folsom Street is also experiencing lane reductions between Mabini and 3rd streets.

These closures are part of the 'Super Bowl Experience' build-out and are expected to cause cascading delays throughout the downtown core. Rolling closures on Mission and 4th streets are also anticipated later this evening. Officials recommend avoiding the vicinity of the Moscone Center if possible. For those who must drive through SoMa, expect heavy congestion on alternative routes such as 2nd and 5th streets.

Warriors Game and Evening Congestion in Mission Bay

Traffic is expected to intensify further this evening as the Golden State Warriors host the Detroit Pistons at the Chase Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., but doors will open at 5:30 p.m., leading to an early surge in Mission Bay traffic. To manage the influx, special event parking rates of $12 per hour are currently in effect at meters surrounding the arena. To assist fans and commuters, the Muni 78X Arena Express will begin shuttle service from the 16th Street BART Station starting at 4:30 p.m.

Public Transit Alerts and Regional Commute Updates

Public transport riders should be aware of several specific service changes today:

• Muni Reroutes: Due to Super Bowl preparations, the 5 Fulton, 14 Mission, 30 Stockton, and 91 Owl lines are operating on minor detours in the SoMa and Union Square areas.
• BART Escalator Maintenance: Several escalator modernization projects are reaching milestones today. Work is ongoing at the Embarcadero (Main & Market) and Powell Street (4th & Market) stations. While some units are scheduled to return to service tonight, expect temporary boarding delays during peak hours.
• Golden Gate Ferry: Tiburon ferry service remains replaced by a bus bridge today due to ongoing construction at the terminal. Standard ferry schedules are expected to resume over the weekend.
• Caltrain: Today marks the final day of the free VTA-operated bus bridge between Tamien and San Jose Diridon. Normal electric train service at Tamien is slated to resume tomorrow.

Weather and Aviation Outlook

Drivers should stay alert for damp conditions as cloudy skies persist across the Peninsula. At San Francisco International Airport (SFO), low cloud ceilings are currently being monitored by the FAA, which may lead to minor ground delay programs for arriving flights. For transbay commuters, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is back to full capacity following the conclusion of overnight lane maintenance early this morning.