Streetwise: Deep Underground in the Western Neighborhoods
by Frank Dunnigan
August 2022
Frank Dunnigan, WNP member and columnist. -
Civic improvement projects are a regular feature of local life. From early days to more recent times, the planning, funding and construction of the City’s infrastructure has been a topic of discussion among residents. Here are a few of the more memorable images in the WNP/OSFH photo archives that serve to remind us of just how much underground infrastructure has been completed in the past—amenities that we take for granted every single day.
View east on Vicente near 39th Avenue of sewer construction, July 23, 1909 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
In the post-Earthquake/Fire years, San Francisco wisely understood that civic growth was on the horizon, and public utilities involving water and sewer service were laid out well in advance of new home construction. This sewer line is being installed near 39th Avenue and Vicente, looking east, in 1909.
Sewer pumping station construction at Fulton and 48th Avenue, March 11, 1915 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.
Excavation and construction of a sewage pumping station at 48th Avenue and Fulton in 1915. This spot marks the beginning of the Mile Rock Sewage Tunnel.
Mayor James "Sunny Jim" Rolph in Mile Rock Tunnel Sewer, September 2, 1915 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
The Mile Rock Sewage Tunnel runs deep beneath the streets of the Richmond District. A 1908 sewer bond was approved by voters for construction of this tunnel, running from 48th & Fulton to its discharge point at Mile Rock Beach north of the Cliff House—more than 4,200 feet long and at a depth of up to 300 feet beneath neighborhood streets. The walls of the tunnel are approximately one foot thick. By the late 1990s, sewage was being re-routed to treatment plants and today the tunnel handles only storm water runoff during the most severe winter rains.
Construction of underground restrooms on Esplanade near foot of Cabrillo Street, May 11, 1920 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
As part of the construction of the seawall more than 100 years ago, underground “Convenience Stations” were built for public use. Once the GGNRA was established, these underground facilities were closed down in the 1970s due to security concerns for patrons, severe vandalism and the lack of universal access.
TView south of unpaved 48th Avenue near Ortega after construction of sewer line, July 25, 1924 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
This sewer line has been completed on 48th Avenue south of Noriega, with grading and paving of the roadway yet to come.
North San Andreas Pipeline in Portola Drive at Vicente, April 13, 1928 (Spring Valley Water Co. (SFPUC - Spring Valley Water collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Pipe installation on Portola Drive near Vicente in 1928. This stretch of roadway was widened to two lanes in each direction in the late 1950s, in conjunction with the widening of Market Street from Castro to the beginning of Portola.
View south of sewer construction on Laguna Honda Boulevard, August 11, 1928 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Sewer line installation on Laguna Honda Boulevard near 7th Avenue in 1928. The roadway was later widened and is heavily traveled today.
Early grading and sewer installation on Alemany near Junipero Serra, November 19, 1928 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Grading and sewer installation on Alemany Boulevard, east of Junipero Serra Boulevard. The roadway became heavily used in the years after World Sar II and required grade separation with an overpass installed at the intersection with Junipero Serra Boulevard (behind the photographer) by the early 1950s.
Pedestrian tunnel under Great Highway at Taraval, February 24, 1931 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Most kids remember holding their breath to avoid the incredible stench in the series of pedestrian tunnels that once ran beneath Great Highway providing access to Ocean Beach.
Merced Manor Reservoir construction, March 17, 1936 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Construction of the Merced Manor Reservoir in 1936 which replaced an earlier facility at the site. Intersection of 22nd Avenue and Ocean is shown at upper right.
Street widening construction on 19th Avenue near Wawona, 1937 (Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
The widening of 19th Avenue near Wawona in 1937 required the rerouting and undergrounding of various utility services. Today, this is one of San Francisco’s most heavily used thoroughfares.
Two men posed in sewer pipes along Brotherhood Way for Parkmerced sewer construction, September 17, 1942 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Construction of the Parkmerced development on the former Ingleside Golf Course property required installation of new sewer lines in the adjacent area.
The pier was the ocean water intake line that ran deep beneath City streets (primarily beneath Geary) to provide seawater to the Lurline Baths at Bush & Larkin Streets from 1894 until 1936. It also served smaller commercial baths as well as the Olympic Club on Post Street until the late 1960s. The pier was eventually removed in 1972.
Construction of Oceanside Water Pollution Control plant at Skyline Boulevard and Great Highway, 1990s (Richmond Review Newspaper Collection / Courtesy of Paul Kozakiewicz, Richmond Review)
Construction of the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant near Ocean Beach began in 1990 and was completed in 1994. It currently processes 20% of San Francisco’s wastewater, and 70% of the structure is located underground.
Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places!
Frank Dunnigan, WNP member and columnist. -
View east on Vicente near 39th Avenue of sewer construction, July 23, 1909 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Sewer pumping station construction at Fulton and 48th Avenue, March 11, 1915 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.
Mayor James "Sunny Jim" Rolph in Mile Rock Tunnel Sewer, September 2, 1915 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Construction of underground restrooms on Esplanade near foot of Cabrillo Street, May 11, 1920 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
TView south of unpaved 48th Avenue near Ortega after construction of sewer line, July 25, 1924 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
North San Andreas Pipeline in Portola Drive at Vicente, April 13, 1928 (Spring Valley Water Co. (SFPUC - Spring Valley Water collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
View south of sewer construction on Laguna Honda Boulevard, August 11, 1928 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Early grading and sewer installation on Alemany near Junipero Serra, November 19, 1928 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Pedestrian tunnel under Great Highway at Taraval, February 24, 1931 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Merced Manor Reservoir construction, March 17, 1936 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Street widening construction on 19th Avenue near Wawona, 1937 (Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Two men posed in sewer pipes along Brotherhood Way for Parkmerced sewer construction, September 17, 1942 (DPW Horace Chaffee, photographer - SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector.)
Construction of Oceanside Water Pollution Control plant at Skyline Boulevard and Great Highway, 1990s (Richmond Review Newspaper Collection / Courtesy of Paul Kozakiewicz, Richmond Review)
