San Francisco Closed Upper Great Highway to Traffic

The coastal roadway transition to a public recreation space prompted a high-stakes ballot measure.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in National Parks

Screen-print poster illustration of a coastal highway path transitioning to park space, evocative of San Francisco coastal recreation and urban infrastructure. — San Francisco voters will decide on Proposition G, which seeks to restore weekday vehicle access to a stretch of the Upper Great Highway. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support converting city streets into public recreation space in your local community?

In April 2025, San Francisco permanently closed a two-mile segment of the Upper Great Highway to vehicle traffic. The project turned the road into a recreational park that drew 1.7 million visitors during its first year of operation.

Why it matters

The closure sparked a contentious local debate, with voters now set to decide on Proposition G to restore weekday vehicle access. The measure has attracted significant financial backing from both sides of the issue.

The park averages 5,000 daily visitors, with over 50 percent of all visits occurring on weekdays. Meanwhile, an estimated 20,000 vehicles are diverted to nearby streets in the Sunset district daily.

The players

Jeremy Stoppelman

He is a prominent donor who contributed $400,000 to the campaign opposing the restoration of weekday vehicle access.

The details

The city transformed the coastal stretch into a public space featuring playgrounds and skate ramps. Proponents of restoring traffic have raised $130,000 for the Yes on G campaign, while opponents have raised $800,000 to keep the park intact.

The Upper Great Highway was closed to vehicle traffic in April 2025.
Voters will decide the fate of the road on Proposition G in November 2026.

Travel Outlook

This project represents the largest pedestrianization effort in California history. It shifts local urban planning away from legacy coastal roadways toward the creation of permanent public recreation zones.

Residents in the Sunset district should anticipate continued traffic diversion through 2026. Travelers visiting the area can expect limited road access along the coast until the upcoming election decides the site's permanent status.

The takeaway

The transformation of the Upper Great Highway serves as a significant case study on balancing urban transportation needs with public recreational demand. Residents living in the surrounding district continue to weigh the benefits of park access against the daily logistical impact of 20,000 diverted vehicles.

What happens next

Voters will cast their ballots on Proposition G in November 2026 to determine if the road will remain closed to weekday vehicle traffic or be reopened.