The Highway 101: Carpinteria project will begin construction on the night of April 5, marking the first segment of the 101 widening project that will add peak period carpool lanes between Carpinteria and Santa Barbara.
The project includes adding a carpool lane in each direction with the city of Carpinteria between Bailard Avenue and the southbound 101 onramp at Santa Claus Lane. The new lanes will tie into recently added third lanes to the south and upcoming projects to the north. The project also includes the addition of new bridges over Santa Monica and Franklin creeks, freeway ramp improvements and six new sound walls aimed at reducing freeway noise for neighbors, according to Caltrans.
The work will be conducted in several areas that have not been updated since the highway was constructed in the 1950s. Granite Construction will begin work on April 5 and motorists should expect safety fencing and barriers to shift lanes as work will be conducted on the outside shoulders. The first year of work will focus on the south side of the 101.
“It is important to note that construction of public works projects is an essential government service even during current health measures. Our teams are working to ensure that these needed improvements are built while accommodating safe working conditions,” officials said.
The project is a partnership between Caltrans, the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, and the City of Carpinteria with state funding approved by the California Transportation Commission.
“This project is a significant step in addressing freeway traffic congestion that has increased over the last 30 years,” Santa Barbara County Association of Governments Executive Director Marjie Kirn said in a statement. “There is a lot of work that has to occur across a number of government agencies to bring these projects to fruition, and our team is looking forward to continuing that process as we apply for funding for the remaining segments in Montecito and Santa Barbara later this summer to complete the corridor.”
email: mwhite@newspress.com
