The rainbow crosswalks at 18th and Castro, which were damaged during the May filming of ABC's miniseries When We Rise, will now be replaced in September, nearly two years to the day after they were installed. 

The crosswalk replacement was originally slated to take place before Pride, but it was delayed after Public Works requested for regrading work and asphalt repaving to also be performed at the intersection, to help address water ponding at the southwest corner. That work will require the Muni lines running overhead to be de-energized, making for a more serious undertaking.

After months of coordination, "the contracts are signed, the permits are good to go and the work will really begin on the 12th of September," said Andrea Aiello, executive director of the Castro/Upper Market CBD, in yesterday's newsletter. "It's a miracle, they are happening together! I've been assured that we really are all good to go."

The crosswalks were damaged when When We Rise put down a black material to cover them up for a scene set in the '70s. The material ended up sticking to the crosswalks, and despite multiple cleanings, the northern and eastern crosswalks still had permanent damage. Originally, only those two crosswalks were set to be replaced, but in yesterday's newsletter, Aiello announced that all four will now be replaced.

The additional replacements are needed "because of the regrading work that has to be done to solve the drainage problem," Aiello told us via email. "All four [crosswalks] will be impacted and then replaced."

As previously announced, the costs associated with replacing the crosswalks will be covered by ABC. The regrading work is part of the city's 2014 sidewalk widening contract with Ghilotti Brothers.

According to SF Public Works spokesperson Rachel Gordon, the regrading work is tentatively scheduled to begin at 7pm on Monday, September 12th, continuing overnight. It should be completed during the day on Tuesday, September 13th. "The work will involve grinding out the old pavement and putting in new pavement, and completing any finish work," Gordon said. 

The new rainbow crosswalks will be installed during the day on Wednesday, September 14th and Thursday, September 15th, with work possibly continuing into Friday, September 16th. We'll keep you posted on when the construction starts, as well as any impact on Muni lines.