One hundred percent of tree material removed during the preconstruction activity was recycled or salvaged by Green Waste Recycle Yard in Richmond, California.
More than 50 native plant species, for a total of 45,000 plants, were collected in the Presidio prior to constriction and are now being grown in the Presidio Nursery.
Many of the piles for the high viaduct will be 12 feet in diameter, requiring a special oscillator rig for installation of the piles. Larger, deeper piles mean fewer piles are necessary, opening views from the Presidio to the bay.
The new parkway will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross over or under Doyle Drive in accordance with the Presidio Trails and Bikeways Master Plan.
The new parkway will have larger 11- and 12-foot lanes to accommodate buses and provide an improved experience for drivers.
Each weekday, nearly 120,000 vehicles travel between Marin and San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge along Doyle Drive.
The start of construction of the Presidio Parkway was accelerated by more than a year thanks to the receipt of $50 million in federal stimulus funding.
The new parkway will improve traffic safety by including continuous shoulders for emergency and disabled vehicles.
The first set of tunnels, the Battery Tunnels, will be constructed north of the San Francisco National Cemetery and span 853 feet.
Halleck Street will be closed and temporarily removed during construction. Upon completion of the Main Post Tunnels, Halleck Street will be restored over the top of the new tunnels.
The Main Post Tunnels will be constructed north of the Main Post parade grounds. These will be the longer of the two sets of tunnels, spanning 1,017 feet.
$3.6 million went directly to small and local businesses for the project’s first preconstruction contract (tree removal and native plant and seed collection).
The new parkway will include extended bus bays on both sides of Richardson Avenue.
Seismic safety will be achieved in 2011 when traffic is transferred onto new structures and the temporary bypass adjacent to the existing facility.
A robust Disadvantaged and Small Business Enterprise Participation Program has been established to actively engage businesses throughout San Francisco, the Bay Area, and California to participate in the project.
The northbound and southbound roadways will be separated by a wide, landscaped median improving driver safety and creating a parkway feel.
Both sets of tunnels will be constructed using the cut and cover method by digging into the natural bluffs and covering the tunnels with a green pedestrian corridor.
Including a temporary bypass in the construction phasing reduced the construction duration by nearly two years.

Preconstruction Activities

Prior to beginning work on the Presidio Parkway, the Doyle Drive replacement, the construction team needed to prepare the site for the upcoming activity. Preconstruction work began in summer 2009 and continued through March 2010. Learn more about the site preparation, including tree removal and protection, native plant and seed collection and utility relocation.

Tree Removal

The area surrounding the construction site had to be carefully cleared of trees to create space for construction equipment and materials. Although there is a visual impact as a result of the tree removal, an extensive landscaping effort is a critical part of the project design.

The project's Tree Removal and Projection Plan was carefully developed in collaboration with experts and the Presidio Trust to remove only the trees necessary and protect the surrounding area. Furthermore, the eventual replacement of existing trees with young, healthy and more diverse trees will help improve this man-made forest in the long term.

View the Tree Removal and Protection Plan Fact Sheet (1.52 MB)
View the Phase I Tree Removal Areas (3.31 MB)
View the Phase II Tree Removal Areas (4.27 MB)

Native Plant and Seed Collection

Native plants and seeds were collected and are being grown in the Presidio Nursery to be used for post-construction landscaping and wetlands mitigation.

Utility Relocation

Utilities in the project corridor, including potable water, sanitary sewer, telecommunications and electrical, were relocated to make way for construction.

View the overview notices issued for the utility relocation activity

Visit the photo gallery for pictures of utility relocation
View a video of the utility relocation along Old Mason Street near Crissy Field