Work Crews Break Gas Main At Haight And Masonic, Again

Photo: Amy Stephenson/Hoodline

A street closure on Haight between Masonic and Ashbury this afternoon is the result of another gas main rupture by work crews excavating the street for the infrastructure improvement project that resumed last week, according to an SFPD officer on the scene.

The rupture occurred around 1:30pm this afternoon and resulted in traffic closures for cars and pedestrians along the whole block, with SFFD and SFPD responding to the scene.

From around 1:30 to 2:15 the street remained closed and and pedestrians were asked to leave the area, but no residents or businesses had been evacuated. The police said the decision to evacuate lay with the fire department, who hadn't yet made the call.

This is the third related gas main rupture caused by the infrastructure improvement project in four months, after an initial one on the same block in April and a subsequent rupture last month on Baker between Oak and Page streets.

Christin Evans, owner of The Booksmith at 1644 Haight St. and board member of the Haight Ashbury Merchants Association, said that HAMA was considering holding the city accountable for the disruptions.

"The merchant's association is considering seeking reimbursements from the city or the construction company's insurance for loss of business," she said in an email. "We have been told that city has been working off of outdated plans, and we're disappointed to see this happen again."

As of this posting, the SFPD is beginning to take down the yellow barrier tape to let pedestrians and cars in.

Update, 3:45pm: The SFMTA reports that the street has reopened.