Freeway Widening Project Hits a Rough Spot

Environmental and other issues that appear to be unresolved, may lead to legal action over a freeway widening project from Santa Barbara to Carpinteria.

Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider was criticized for taking a hard line against the project if it doesn’t include traffic relief for her city streets along with improvements to a problem train bridge in the area.

For those watching the progress carefully, they say any legal challenge is coming at the 11th hour.

The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, SBCAG, is in the middle of the issue between the city and CalTrans. The agency doles out the money locally and the project has a $450-million price tag.

The section earmarked for widening is a two lane stretch surrounded by three lane sections, and it is frequently jammed during rush hour periods.