San Francisco’s long fight over the Great Highway has reached another turning point. Voters have rejected Proposition G, which would have reopened the oceanfront road to cars on weekdays.
That means the 2-mile stretch of the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard will stay what it’s been for more than a year and a half: Sunset Dunes, a car-free park along Ocean Beach.
What Prop G Would Have Done
Prop G, backed by a group called “Great Highway for Everyone,” would have reopened the road to private cars from early Monday morning through Friday evening, while keeping it a park on weekends and holidays. Supporters called it a compromise.
Opponents said it would have meant dismantling much of the park, including a new children’s playground and other features built on the old roadway. The city controller estimated that reopening the road could cost about $20 million over five years.
How We Got Here
This was the third time in four years San Francisco voters weighed in on the Great Highway:
| Year | Measure | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Prop I (keep cars on the Great Highway) | Rejected |
| 2024 | Prop K (close the road permanently for a park) | Passed with about 55% |
| 2026 | Prop G (reopen to cars on weekdays) | Rejected |
The road closed to cars in March 2025, and Sunset Dunes opened that April. City park officials estimate it draws about 1.7 million visitors a year.
The Traffic Debate
The fight has been especially heated in the Sunset District, where many residents opposed closing the road. Supporters of Prop G argued that traffic pushed onto nearby neighborhood streets has made those streets more dangerous. Supporters of the park disputed those crash claims and argued the road was also threatened by coastal erosion.
The issue has had real political consequences. Former District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, who championed the park, was recalled by Sunset voters in 2025.
What It Means for Drivers
If you used to take the Upper Great Highway to get along the west side of the city, nothing changes. You’ll still need to use alternate routes like Sunset Boulevard. With the third vote now in, it looks like the park is here to stay, at least for now.
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