SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS Radio) -- Friday morning commuters arriving in downtown San Francisco via Fremont Street saw something they haven't seen in over six months: a wide-open path beneath the Salesforce Transbay Transit Center.
A massive strut that had helped shore up the portion of the transit center spanning Fremont Street was removed overnight. The strut had been installed after cracks were found in steel beams inside the transit center in September. Its location in the middle of the street forced drivers to veer around it.
Last week, the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) announced work would begin to remove the shoring system. The TJPA announcement said the work would necessitate overnight closures of Fremont Street for a month.
“Completing repairs at the Fremont Street location is a major milestone, moving us closer to reopening the center to the public,” said Mark Zabaneh, TJPA executive director.
The TJPA expects all repairs to be completed by June 1, although a re-opening of the massive transit center won't be scheduled until an independent review board signs off on the repairs.
Shoring remains in place on First Street, a block west of Fremont Street, with no word from the TJPA on when it will be removed.