U.S. General Services Administration
GSA Announces Front Street Closure at Federal Plaza for 21-month Construction Project
SAN DIEGO — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announces the start of a 21-month construction project at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Office Building (FOB) that will close all lanes of Front Street between Broadway and West F Street from January 25, 2020, to June 2021. Pedestrian walkways near the project site will be closed for the duration of the 21-month project. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be detoured.
The purpose of the project is to reinforce and enhance the underpass where Front Street passes beneath a portion of the building. This construction project increases safety for Schwartz FOB occupants, pedestrians and vehicles through structural enhancements and improvements to pedestrian walkways in the underpass areas, including more efficient lighting throughout. The building’s existing framing at the Front Street underpass will be reinforced with new steel beams, column support structures and precast concrete paneling.
To transition vehicles off Front Street, GSA will detour traffic starting at 5 a.m., January 25, 2020, to June 2021; travelers in the vicinity of the construction project are advised to plan ahead for potential delays and adhere to posted signage:
- Portable Message Signs on Interstate 5, and in the local area, will advise drivers of the Front Street closure and available detours
- The easternmost lane of Front Street between Broadway and E St will provide access to the underground parking garage located at 101 W Broadway and for turning Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) buses. No thru traffic.
- Construction work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except on weekends and holidays. Front Street between Broadway and F Streets will remain closed to all traffic 24 hours a day.
After the roadwork is complete, work will begin on new pedestrian walkways. This portion of the project will construct new full-height walls that will separate walkways from adjacent vehicle lanes on Front Street.
“One of our strategic goals is better management of federal real estate and this GSA construction project allows for that while also being a catalyst for downtown revitalization,” said GSA’s Regional Administrator Tom Scott. “By enhancing the Schwartz Federal Office Building’s structural integrity, we’re also providing a safer public space in partnership with the community.”
Congressional appropriations for the Schwartz FOB structural enhancements align with San Diego’s development and design goals for more accessible and walkable streets in the downtown-area neighborhood.