City Closed Two-Mile Stretch of Great Highway
The coastal road was turned into a recreation space in April 2025 ahead of a November 2026 vote on its future.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in National Parks
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Residents in the Sunset District have navigated a two-mile closure of the Upper Great Highway to vehicle traffic since April 2025. The city transformed the coastal route into a public park that recorded 1.7 million visitors in its first year.
Why it matters
The closure sparked a major local debate over traffic congestion, as 20,000 vehicles are diverted to neighborhood streets daily. Voters will now decide the future of the corridor in November 2026 through Proposition G, which seeks to restore weekday vehicle access.
The park project drew 1.7 million visitors in its first year, with 50 percent of visits occurring on weekdays. Meanwhile, opposition groups raised $800,000 to keep the park closed to cars, significantly outpacing the $130,000 raised by proponents of Proposition G.
The players
Jeremy Stoppelman
A donor who contributed $400,000 to the campaign opposing the restoration of vehicle traffic on the Great Highway.
Sunset District
The neighborhood of 116,000 residents where daily traffic patterns have shifted due to the closure.
The details
The current setup originated from a pandemic pilot program that restricted weekend traffic, eventually expanding to a full closure. City officials have since added skate ramps and playgrounds to the former roadway, which is now considered the largest pedestrianization project in California history. Proponents of restoring weekday traffic successfully gathered 16,000 signatures to qualify their measure for the upcoming ballot. Residents can prepare for the November 2026 election, which will determine if cars return to the highway on weekdays or if the current recreation-only use persists.
Timeline
April 2025: The two-mile stretch of the Upper Great Highway closed to vehicle traffic.
November 2026: San Francisco voters will decide on Proposition G.
Across the Bay
This dispute marks a direct challenge to the city's previous resolution to convert the Upper Great Highway into permanent public recreation space. The upcoming vote mirrors broader city tensions regarding the trade-offs between vehicle throughput and the expansion of pedestrian-only zones.
If you drive through the Sunset, expect to continue navigating redirected traffic as 20,000 vehicles remain displaced from the coast. The status of your commute will be decided at the ballot box in November 2026.
The takeaway
The Upper Great Highway remains a focal point for city infrastructure debates, balancing recreation for 5,000 daily visitors against transit needs. Keep an eye on the official election materials for Proposition G ahead of the November 2026 vote to understand how your local streets may change.
Further reading
For more on how the city manages its public spaces, visit National Parks.
Live Poll
Do you support converting city streets into public recreation space in your local community?
