Highway 101 Summerland Constructions Begins Sunday

Source: Caltrans

The Highway 101: Summerland project will begin construction on Sunday night, November 1, 2020. This will be the second of five segments under construction as part of the Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project that will add peak-period, carpool lanes between Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. In addition to new freeway lanes, the Summerland project includes new bridges and undercrossings at Evans Avenue and Sheffield Drive, updated on- and off-ramps, and drainage improvements.

“The Highway 101: Summerland project includes locally-inspired design elements that will highlight the unique community of Summerland at the Evans Avenue Undercrossing,” said First District County Supervisor and Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) Director Das Williams. “In addition, there will be important drainage improvements and the much anticipated third lane in each direction throughout Summerland that will create peak-period carpool lanes to help address ongoing traffic congestion.”

On October 22, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) voted to allocate approximately $89 million of construction funds for the Highway 101: Summerland project from the Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Solutions for Congested Corridors Program, Regional Gas Tax Program and State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP). The Highway 101: Summerland project construction and landscaping costs are approximately $113 million.

“We are excited to see real progress on improvements that address freeway traffic congestion and provide improved coastal access for pedestrians and bicyclists that reflect our local community values,” said SBCAG Executive Director Marjie Kirn. “These improvements are made possible thanks to our local transportation sales tax, Measure A, that continues to prove to be a valuable funding resource to leverage significant funds from Senate Bill 1 (SB1) to fund the Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project and deliver other components of our “lane and train” solution to address traffic congestion.”

This past summer, SBCAG and Caltrans applied for state funding for the two remaining segments in Montecito and Santa Barbara to complete construction in the corridor. The CTC will vote on SB1 funding awards in early December.

The Highway 101: Summerland project adds important safety improvements in an area that has not been updated since the freeway was originally built in the 1950s.

“This project will create new right-hand on- and off-ramps at the Sheffield Drive Interchange. This is an important safety improvement because currently southbound vehicles are traveling up over Ortega Hill

and traffic is merging on and off the freeway with old, sub-standard left-hand ramps. Coupled with the added spectacular ocean views on this hill, merging into the fast lane causes regular traffic backups. Additionally, we will be improving on- and off-ramps on Evans and Wallace Avenues and adding two new sound walls,” said California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 5 Director Tim Gubbins.

Construction will begin on the night of November 1. Please expect to see initial safety fencing, vegetation removal, tree trimming, safety barriers to shift lanes, and work to build up outside shoulders. Then lanes will be shifted, and construction will focus on the median and fast lanes of US 101. The public is encouraged to find more information and sign up for biweekly construction updates on the project’s website at www.SBROADS.com, or by calling (805) 845.5112, or emailing info@SBROADS.com.

Construction of public works projects is an essential government service even during current COVID-19 pandemic health measures. The Highway 101 project team is working to ensure that these needed improvements are built while accommodating safe working conditions.

Highway 101: Carpinteria to Santa Barbara project is a partnership between Caltrans, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, County of Santa Barbara, and the City of Carpinteria with state funding approved by the California Transportation Commission.