Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you to Fremont residents and commuters who have followed our project updates as we work to ensure the delivery of water to the Bay Area through the BDPL 3&4 Seismic Upgrade project.

We appreciate the input you have given us as we complete this complicated project and work to minimize inconveniences to those who live and drive around the project site.

Construction will continue during regular work hours through Wednesday, Nov. 27, but no work will take place on Thursday, Nov. 28 or Friday, Nov. 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Have a lovely holiday and call our 24/7 hotline with any questions: 866-973-1476

Construction Update: Excavation Work to Take Place in Right of Way along Tissiack Place

Starting Wednesday, November 13, construction activities will take place during regular work hours, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Workers will be replacing the Bay Division Pipeline No. 4, which runs parallel to the Bay Division Pipeline No. 3 that was upgraded in the Right of Way in August and September. The work will take place in SFPUC’s right of way parallel to Tissiack Place, between Mission Blvd. and Nugget Way.

This second pipeline will enhance the reliability of our water system in the event of an earthquake or other emergency. Installing the pipe will not require construction outside of regular work hours and will not require the closure of Nugget Way.

If you have questions or concerns, please call our 24-hour answering service at 866-973-1476.

Work will take place in the blue area.

A Bison Beneath Mission Boulevard

Vertebra bone found at the
construction site.

Paleontologists discovered fossilized bones of multiple species during construction this summer.  In addition to many microfossils (e.g. birds, fish, clams, and reptiles) several large mammal bones were found, possibly of an extinct type of bison believed to have lived during the Rancholabrean age sometime between 10,000 and 300,000 years ago.  Buffalo, the largest land animals in North America today, are a form of bison.  Because vertebrate remains are very rare these ice age fossils are considered a significant discovery and protected by both state and federal laws and regulations.

Paleontologists have been working at the site alongside construction crews in order to thoroughly evaluate and protect the fossil finds while causing minimal impact on the construction schedule. The team does not expect the discoveries to affect the construction project’s target completion date in late 2014.

Paleontologist Richard Serrano excavating finds.

Construction Update: Upcoming Saturday Work Planned Around Mission Blvd. in Fremont

On Saturdays November 2 and November 9, construction activities adjacent to 
Mission Blvd. will take place between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Workers will be placing a base slab for the seismically-engineered concrete box beneath Mission Blvd. as well as reinforcing abutments along the path of the pipeline. The work will not impact traffic on Mission Blvd. or local roads.

 If you have questions or concerns, please call our 24-hour answering service at 866-973-1476.  

Mission Blvd Night Closure Sat. Oct. 26-27 for Nearby BART Silicon Valley Work

Work for BART Silicon Valley

Closure of Mission Boulevard (eastbound and westbound) 

When: Saturday night – Sunday morning 
            Oct. 26, 11 p.m. to Oct. 27, 9 a.m.

Where: Eastbound and Westbound Mission Boulevard (Route 262) between Warm Springs Boulevard and I-880 in Fremont, including connector ramps to and from north and southbound I-880

The BART Silicon Valley Mission Warren Area Improvements Project, which is taking place near the SFPUC's Seismic Upgrade of Bay Division Pipelines Nos. 3&4, will require an overnight road closure to allow for installation of temporary false work for the future BART Silicon Valley bridge over Mission Blvd. this weekend.

To learn more visit http://www.vta.org/bart/missionwarren.html

Sidewalk Closed on East Side of Mission Blvd. North of I-680

The temporary sidewalk east of Mission Blvd., open since March for residents living north of I-680 to pass beneath the highway, will be closed starting on Monday, October 28.

A new sidewalk on the west side of Mission Blvd. will be opened on Monday.

For your safety, please cross Mission Blvd. at Paseo Padre, and then cross beneath the I-680 using the open sidewalk on the west side of the street.

As construction continues along Mission Boulevard, we ask residents to obey all signs regarding sidewalk closures. 

For updates on sidewalk and street access, follow us on Twitter @I680H2OPipeWork or sign up for our email list in the right-hand column.

Pedestrians must use the sidewalk path marked in blue above.
Do not use the red pathway to cross beneath Mission Blvd.
The dark red area is an active construction site. 

Emergency Preparedness Month

The First 72 Hours
This October, take time to engage in your community, discuss ideas and plans, and prepare for an emergency or natural disaster. The SFPUC’s Emergency Preparedness Month encourages all San Francisco-area residents to become more aware and prepared for the next emergency, which is almost certain to take place in our lifetimes. The first 72 hours after an emergency are often the times when community members come together to help each other out. If we prepare beforehand, we’ll be better off when an emergency occurs.

What can you do?
Meet with your family, neighbors and community organizers to get connected, develop a plan and share resources. Use SF72.org and sfwater.org/BePrepared as starting points. You’ll find tips, guidelines for supplies, a mobile app and   stories from real San Franciscans.

This is our city
SF72.org was developed by San Francisco for San Francisco. Let’s protect each other and our city by using our resources and knowledge to the fullest when an emergency strikes.

Our community members are not the only ones getting prepared. The SFPUC has been improving and renovating our regional water system to ensure a safe and reliable water supply. Although San Francisco will always need to rely on this imported water from the Sierras, we are also developing additional water supplies that can be used in the event that our regional system is disrupted. For example, we are developing local wells in San Francisco to blend high-quality groundwater with our imported water supplies, and we’re producing recycled water for non-drinking purposes to reduce the amount of drinking water currently used in these ways.

Check www.sf72.org or www.sfwater.org/BePrepared for more information.