Starting April 6, drivers will see the Highway 101 widening project enter its final phase of construction, which is planned to be completed in 2028. The section of highway from the top of Montecito through Santa Barbara will see a dramatic lane change in May, and a closure of Cabrillo and Los Patos Way off/on ramps, as a new bridge and ramps are built. Two lanes in each direction will remain open during the day to keep traffic moving.
“This is a huge moment for our community,” said City of Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse in a statement. “Starting construction on the final segment of Highway 101 in Santa Barbara means we are delivering on the promise we made to voters — investing local dollars locally to improve safety and reduce congestion.”
The project focuses on highway improvements on an 11-mile stretch of the 101 from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara, with seven miles of road being completed thus far. New continuous carpool lanes have been and continue to be added, along with safety improvements such as updated storm drains, lighting, and overhead signs. The highway is being paved in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement that produces less road noise and will last longer than the previous surface.
There are many highway-adjacent projects being completed throughout the area, including a new Cabrillo Boulevard Interchange and tear-drop traffic pattern, doing away with the left-hand off-ramps and replacing them with new ramps on the right-hand side of the road. There are many organizations working together to bring these improvements to fruition, ranging from city to state level…