Northbound 19th Avenue is gearing up for a rough weekend, and so are the drivers who rely on it. San Franciscans should expect major delays as crews rip up and repave a key stretch of the busy corridor, with traffic funneled into a single lane and Muni riders warned to brace for slower, more crowded trips.
Caltrans is repaving the left and center northbound lanes between Sloat Boulevard and Lincoln Way as part of the 19th Avenue Paving and Rehabilitation project. Work is scheduled from 7 AM today through 5 AM next Monday, according to the SFMTA. Officials say at least one lane will stay open to keep public transit, emergency vehicles and local access moving, though slowly.
Transit detours and what to expect
The plan is simple, if not exactly painless: "Two lanes are scheduled to be fully closed with one lane open for public transit, emergency responders and local access," the SFMTA said.
Muni routes 28, 28R, 48, 66 and 91 will see service adjustments along the corridor. The inbound and outbound accessibility stops at Judah Street and 19th Avenue will not be available during the work. Riders who rely on those stops are being directed to use stops at 18th or 20th avenues instead, according to the agency.
Drivers heading through the Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods are being urged to give themselves extra time, expect backups and consider alternate north-south routes if possible. If you are set on 19th Avenue, patience will be mandatory.
State warning: relief debit cards expire April 30
Far from the asphalt, the state is sounding an alarm about money that could quietly disappear at the end of the month. The California Franchise Tax Board says all Middle Class Tax Refund prepaid debit cards will expire on April 30, and any unused funds will revert to the state's General Fund.
Local reporting estimates that roughly $600 million is still sitting unspent on about five million cards, and recipients with old MCTR cards are being urged to activate them or transfer remaining balances before they time out, ABC7 reports. For anyone trying to figure out whether there is forgotten cash waiting, Hoodline previously published a primer that explains how to check balances and request replacements.
Oakland jury awards $16M to abuse survivor
Across the bay, an Oakland civil jury has awarded $16 million to a man who says he was abused by a priest in the 1970s, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Local coverage notes that the verdict could have ripple effects on dozens of similar cases revived by recent changes to California law.
Prosecutors: new evidence in D4vd case
In Southern California, Los Angeles County prosecutors told a judge they have recovered a "significant amount" of child pornography from digital accounts linked to musician David Burke, known as D4vd, the Los Angeles Times reports. Burke has been arrested and charged in the death of a 14-year-old, and prosecutors say digital forensics are a central piece of their case against him.
Sports note: Raiders take Mendoza at No. 1
On the sports front, the Las Vegas Raiders went all in at quarterback, using the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft on Indiana star Fernando Mendoza. The recent Heisman winner ended up as the top prize for teams in search of a long-term franchise quarterback, according to NFL.com.
For a broader look at the day's developments, including more on these and other stories, see ABC7 for the full roundup. And if you are heading anywhere near 19th Avenue this weekend, plan ahead: sign up for alerts, check transit schedules and give yourself some extra buffer time to get through the Sunset and Parkside bottleneck.
