SF to Reopen Great Highway for Cars on Weekdays Amid Ongoing Debate

San Francisco officials voted this week to reopen the Great Highway to cars on weekdays, marking a shift in the city’s long-running debate over the future of the coastal road.

The Board of Supervisors approved a compromise plan that will restore vehicular access to the Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard from Monday to Friday. The road will stay closed to cars on weekends and holidays, continuing its use as a promenade for pedestrians and cyclists during those times. The changes are expected to take effect in 2025.

The approved plan, known as the “Middle Ground” proposal, was introduced by Supervisor Joel Engardio. It passed with a 7-4 vote after months of debate, community input, and political wrangling among supervisors, city departments, and neighborhood groups.

Since the early days of the pandemic, the Great Highway has been closed to weekday vehicle traffic under an emergency public health order. The two-mile stretch between Lincoln and Sloat became a popular destination for residents seeking safe open space for walking, biking, and recreation. Advocates of the car-free version argued that it provided a rare, safe corridor for non-drivers and helped address climate and equity goals.

Opponents of the closure, many of them residents on the west side, pushed back on the grounds that the closure worsened traffic congestion in nearby neighborhoods and restricted access. Several supervisors also voiced concern over emergency response times and access for people with mobility challenges.

Officials say the hybrid plan is intended to balance the competing interests. During weekdays, the road will function as a traffic corridor. On weekends and holidays, it will revert to recreational use, similar to current practice. The city also intends to monitor traffic, safety, and usage patterns to determine if future changes are needed.

Supervisor Connie Chan, whose district includes part of the Richmond neighborhood, opposed the plan, arguing that the city should prioritize long-term strategies that address sea-level rise and preserve open space. Supervisor Shamann Walton also voted no, citing equity concerns regarding which communities benefit most from the road closure.

Meanwhile, the city continues work on a separate plan for the southern segment of the highway, known as the Great Highway Extension. That portion, which runs south of Sloat Boulevard, is slated for permanent closure to cars starting this summer because of severe erosion risks.

The reopening of the northern stretch during weekdays comes as San Francisco reevaluates how its streets serve both transportation and public space needs. Data from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency shows usage of the car-free Great Highway has been strong since 2020, with weekend foot and bike traffic regularly topping 20,000 people.

City agencies are expected to begin planning for road modifications, signage, and enforcement to support the new schedule ahead of the 2025 rollout. Future adjustments will depend on ongoing traffic studies and feedback from residents.

For now, the Great Highway will remain a shared space, toggling between recreational use and commuter artery. What form it takes in the long term will likely depend on climate adaptation work and continued debate over who and what city streets are for.