Two miles of the ‘Great Highway’ will be permanently closed to cars, in part due to erosion that makes the road unsafe for vehicles.
San Francisco’s Upper Great Highway is being transformed into a pedestrian space, with the road closing to cars permanently on April 12. According to Friends of Ocean Beach Park, “On day one, this park will launch with seating, recreation areas, public art, and intuitive wayfinding, with much more to come as we continue to gather input from the community.”
In an article for Streetsblog San Francisco, Roger Rudick describes plans for the new park, which include lounge spaces, murals, bike parking, and an exploration area for children. “The San Francisco Rec & Parks department is also holding a naming contest for the "Ocean Beach Park/Great Highway Park" or whatever it will ultimately be called.” When complete, the park will be 2 miles long and cover 43 oceanfront acres.
The closure was prompted by sea level rise, which threatens the integrity of the roadway segment, often closed due to sand buildup. Prior to that decision, a segment of the Great Highway was converted to pedestrian-only use during the COVID-19 pandemic, but reverted to allowing car access in August 2021.
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